Selective histone deacetylase inhibitors for the treatment of human disease

ABSTRACT

Selective HDAC inhibitors, and pharmaceutical compositions that include the same, are described herein for the treatment of cancer, immunological diseases, inflammatory diseases, and neurological diseases.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to compounds that inhibit histone deacetylase (HDAC) protein and more particularly, but not exclusively, to compounds that specifically inhibit HDAC6 and pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating diseases that may beneficially utilize such compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of diseases are known in the field to elude common treatment methods. For example, certain diseases and disorders that implicate histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins as pharmacological targets have continued to evade known therapeutics and treatment methodologies. Pan-HDAC inhibitors have multiple toxicities due to off-target effects. Molecules that may specifically target certain HDAC proteins may have a greater potential for treating disease with decreased toxicity.

Accordingly, a need exists in the field for compounds, compositions, and methods for treating such elusive diseases and disorders, including certain cancers, inflammatory diseases, immunological diseases, and neurological diseases, by specifically inhibiting HDAC6.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention meets the needs in the field by providing specific inhibitors of HDAC proteins and may be used in the treatment of certain cancers, neurological disorders, and immunological disorders. Indeed, the compounds of the invention may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment in combating these and other related diseases. In some embodiments, the compounds of the invention include specific inhibitors of HDAC6.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a compound of formula I, II, III, IV, or V:

wherein R¹ may be H or optionally substituted alkyl or aryl;

R² may be H or optionally substituted alkyl or aryl;

Q may be a moiety selected from the group consisting of —NR³—(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—NR³—, —NR³—C(═O)—(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—C(═O)—NR³—, —C(═O)—NR³—(CH₂)_(n)—, and —(CH₂)_(n)—NR³—C(═O)—, wherein n is 0 or 1, and R³ may be H or optionally substituted alkyl or aryl;

each of R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, and R⁷ may be independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, and optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, and aryloxy;

Z may be O, S, S(═O), or S(═O)₂;

A may be a moiety selected from the group consisting of

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, each of R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, and R⁷ is H. In some embodiments of formula I, II, or IV, each of R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, and R⁷ is H.

In some embodiments, Q may be —NR³—C(═O)—(CH₂)_(n)— or —(CH₂)_(n)—NR³—, wherein n is 1, and R³ is H. In some embodiments of formula I, II, or IV, Q may be —NR³—C(═O)—(CH₂)_(n)—, wherein n is 1, and R³ is H. In some embodiments of formula I, III, or V, Q may be —(CH₂)_(n)—NR³—, wherein n is 1, and R³ is H.

In some embodiments, R⁴ and R⁷ are optionally substituted alkoxy. In some embodiments, R⁴ and R⁷ are methoxy. In some embodiments of formula I, III, or V, R⁴ and R⁷ are optionally substituted alkoxy. In some embodiments of formula I, III, or V, R⁴ and R⁷ are methoxy.

In some embodiments, R⁵ or R⁶ is optionally substituted alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁵ or R⁶ is methyl. In some embodiments of formula I, III, or V, R⁵ or R⁶ is optionally substituted alkyl. In some embodiments of formula I, III, or V, R⁵ or R⁶ is methyl.

In some embodiments, Z is S(═O)₂ or O.

In some embodiments, the compound of formula I, II, and/or IV may be N¹-hydroxy-N⁸-(4-(N-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)sulfamoyl)phenyl) octanediamide (i.e., SP-2-213 or Formula VI),

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the compound of formula I, III, and/or V may be 6-((2,6-dimethoxy-4-((2-methyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-yl)methoxy)benzyl)amino)-N-hydroxyhexanamide (i.e., SP-2-223 or Formula VII),

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the compound of formula I, III, and/or V may be N-hydroxy-6-((3-methyl-4-((2-methyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-yl)methoxy)benzyl)amino)hexanamide (i.e., SP-2-225 or Formula VIII),

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII are HDAC inhibitors. In some embodiments, the compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII are selective HDAC6 inhibitors.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a pharmaceutical composition or formulation that may include an HDAC inhibitor, such as a selective HDAC inhibitor (e.g., selective inhibitor of HDAC6), in an amount effective to treat a disease alleviated by inhibiting HDAC protein in a patient in need thereof, and a physiologically compatible carrier medium.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may include one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may include a compound of formula VI, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may include a compound of formula VII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may include a compound of formula VIII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may include a selective HDAC6 inhibitor.

In an embodiment, the invention may include a method of treating a disease alleviated by inhibiting HDAC protein, or optionally selectively inhibiting HDAC6 protein, in a patient in need thereof, wherein the treatment comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more HDAC inhibitors that may include one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the one or more HDAC inhibitors include a selective HDAC6 inhibitor.

In some embodiments, the one or more HDAC inhibitors may be administered in dosage unit form. In some embodiments, the dosage unit may include a physiologically compatible carrier medium.

In some embodiments, the one or more HDAC inhibitors may include a compound of formula VI, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the one or more HDAC inhibitors may include a compound of formula VII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the one or more HDAC inhibitors may include a compound of formula VIII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the disease alleviated by inhibiting HDAC protein may be cancer, an immunological disease, an inflammatory disease, or a neurological disease.

In some embodiments, the cancer alleviated by inhibiting HDAC activity, and optionally selectively inhibiting HDAC6 activity, may be selected from the group consisting of acoustic neuroma, adenocarcinoma, angiosarcoma, astrocytoma, basal cell carcinoma, bile duct carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, brain cancer, breast cancer, brochogenic carcinoma, cervical cancer, chordoma, choriocarcinoma, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, craniopharygioma, cystadenocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, endotheliocarconima, ependymoma, epithelial carcinoma, esophageal cancer, Ewing's tumor, fibrosarcoma, gastric cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, glioma, head and neck cancer, hemangioblastoma, hepatoma, kidney cancer, leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, lung cancer, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, medullary carcinoma, medulloblastoma, melanoma, meningioma, mesothelioma, myxosarcoma, nasal cancer, neuroblastoma, oligodendroglioma, oral cancer, osteogenic sarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, papillary adenocarcinoma, papillary carcinoma, pinealoma, prostate cancer, rabdomyosarcoma, rectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, sarcoma, sebacaceous gland carcinoma, seminoma, skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, stomach cancer, sweat gland carcinoma, synovioma, testicular cancer, small cell lung carcinoma, throat cancer, uterine cancer, Wilm's tumor, blood cancer, acute erythroleukemic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic B-cell leukemia, acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, acute monoblastic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute myelomonocytic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia, acute undifferentiated leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, multiple myeloma, heavy chain disease, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, polycythemia vera, and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. In some embodiments the cancer may be an HPV16 positive (+) cancer. In some embodiments, the HPV16 and HPV18 positive (+) cancer may include one or more of cervical cancer and head and neck cancer. In some embodiments, when the disease treated by the methods of the invention is cancer, the cancer may be selected from those cancers listed herein.

In some embodiments, the immunological disease alleviated by inhibiting HDAC activity, and optionally selectively inhibiting HDAC6 activity, may be selected from the group consisting of celiac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1 (IDDM), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren's syndrome, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polymyositis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, autoimmune carditis, Wegener's granulomatosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, polyarteritis nodosa, psoriasis, vitiligo, epidermolysis bullosa, scleroderma, alopecia areata, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus foliaceous, and pemphigus vulgaris.

In some embodiments, the neurological disease alleviated by inhibiting HDAC activity, and optionally selectively inhibiting HDAC6 activity, may be selected from the group consisting of stroke, Huntington's disease, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions may include an additional therapeutic agent. In certain embodiments, the additional therapeutic agents may include one or more of a chemotherapeutic and an immunotherapeutic agent.

In some embodiments, the chemotherapeutic agent may include one or more of bortezomib (Velcade®), lenalidomide (Revlimid®), temozolomide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), Capecitabine (Xeloda®), Cladribine, Clofarabine, Cytarabine (Ara-C®), Floxuridine, Fludarabine, Gemcitabine (Gemzar®), Hydroxyurea, Methotrexate, Pemetrexed (Alimta®), Pentostatin, Thioguanine, daunorubicin; doxorubicin, epirubicin, idaurubicin, topotecan, irinotecan, etoposide, teniposide, mitoxantrone, Vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, estramustine, paclitaxel, dexamethasone, and docetaxel.

In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agent may include a one or more of a PD-1 inhibitor and a PD-L1 inhibitor, wherein the PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitor may be selected from the group consisting of nivolumab, pembrolizumab, pidilizumab, durvalumab, atezolizumab, avelumab, or any fragment, derivative, conjugate, variant, radioisotope-labeled complex, or biosimilar thereof.

In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agent may include one or more of rituximab, trastuzumab, ibritumomab, tositumomab, cetuximab, bevacizumab, gemtuzumab, alemtuzumab, and BL22 or any fragment, derivative, conjugate, variant, radioisotope-labeled complex, or biosimilar thereof.

In another embodiment, the method of the invention may be a second or third line method of treatment for the patient and administration of the compound occurs after performance of a first or second therapy on the patient that failed to treat the disease.

Accordingly, as briefly described herein, this disclosure includes compounds, compositions, and methods of treatment that provide treatment solutions to answer the needs in the field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary and the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments as described herein may be further understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the in vitro inhibitory activity of SP-2-213, SP-2-223, and SP-2-225 against HDAC1, HDAC3, HDAC6 and pan-HDAC proteins.

FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate the in vitro inhibitory activity of SP-2-213 (FIG. 2A), SP-2-223 (FIG. 2B), and SP-2-225 (FIG. 2C) against HDAC6 protein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All patents and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Definitions

As used herein, the terms “administer,” “administration” or “administering” refer to (1) providing, giving, dosing, and/or prescribing by either a health practitioner or his authorized agent or under his or her direction according to the disclosure; and/or (2) putting into, taking or consuming by the mammal, according to the disclosure.

The terms “co-administration,” “co-administering,” “administered in combination with,” “administering in combination with,” “simultaneous,” and “concurrent,” as used herein, encompass administration of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients to a subject so that both active pharmaceutical ingredients and/or their metabolites are present in the subject at the same time. Co-administration includes simultaneous administration in separate compositions, administration at different times in separate compositions, or administration in a composition in which two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients are present. Simultaneous administration in separate compositions and administration in a composition in which both agents are present are preferred.

The terms “active pharmaceutical ingredient” and “drug” include the HDAC inhibitors, chemotherapeutic agents, and immunotherapeutic agents described herein and, more specifically, include the HDAC inhibitors described by formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII. The terms “active pharmaceutical ingredient” and “drug” may also include those compounds described herein that bind HDAC protein and thereby modulate HDAC protein activity. In certain embodiments, the HDAC protein and HDAC protein activity may refer to HDAC6 protein and HDAC6 protein activity.

The term “isostere” refers to a group or molecule whose chemical and/or physical properties are similar to those of another group or molecule. A “bioisostere” is a type of isostere and refers to a group or molecule whose biological properties are similar to those of another group or molecule. For example, for the HDAC inhibitors described herein, a carboxylic acid may be replaced by one of the following bioisosteres for carboxylic acids, including, without limitation, alkyl esters (COOR), acylsulfonamides (CONR—SO₂R), hydroxamic acids (CONR—OH), hydroxamates (CONR—OR), tetrazoles, hydroxyisoxazoles, isoxazol-3-ones, and sulfonamides (SO₂NR), where each R may independently represent hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

The term “in vivo” refers to an event that takes place in a subject's body.

The term “in vitro” refers to an event that takes places outside of a subject's body. In vitro assays encompass cell-based assays in which cells alive or dead are employed and may also encompass a cell-free assay in which no intact cells are employed.

The term “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” refers to that amount of a compound or combination of compounds as described herein that is sufficient to effect the intended application including, but not limited to, disease treatment. A therapeutically effective amount may vary depending upon the intended application (in vitro or in vivo), or the subject and disease condition being treated (e.g., the weight, age and gender of the subject), the severity of the disease condition, the manner of administration, etc. which can readily be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. The term also applies to a dose that will induce a particular response in target cells (e.g., the reduction of platelet adhesion and/or cell migration). The specific dose will vary depending on the particular compounds chosen, the dosing regimen to be followed, whether the compound is administered in combination with other compounds, timing of administration, the tissue to which it is administered, and the physical delivery system in which the compound is carried.

A “therapeutic effect” as that term is used herein, encompasses a therapeutic benefit and/or a prophylactic benefit. A prophylactic effect includes delaying or eliminating the appearance of a disease or condition, delaying or eliminating the onset of symptoms of a disease or condition, slowing, halting, or reversing the progression of a disease or condition, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, the terms “treat,” “treatment,” and/or “treating” may refer to the management of a disease, disorder, or pathological condition (e.g., cancer, neoplastic disorder, inflammatory disorder, immunological disorder, or neurological disorder) with the intent to cure, ameliorate, stabilize, prevent, or control the disease, disorder, pathological condition, or symptoms thereof. Regarding control of the disease, disorder, or pathological condition more specifically, “control” may include the absence of disease progression, as assessed by the response to the methods recited herein, where such response may be complete (e.g., placing the disease in remission) or partial (e.g., slowing the spread of cancerous cells and tissues and/or preventing, slowing, or halting metastasis). The terms “treat,” “treatment,” and/or “treating” may further encompass, with respect to the treatment of cancer, the sensitization of cancerous cells and tissues (e.g., neoplastic cells and tissues) to radiation and/or the protection of non-cancerous cells from the effects of radiation.

For example, a patient responding to the methods of treatment disclosed herein may exhibit the absence of disease progression (e.g., halting the growth and/or spread of neoplastic cells and tissues) over another patient that does not receive the methods of treatment described herein.

As used herein, the terms “modulate” and “modulation” refer to a change in biological activity for a biological molecule (e.g., a protein, gene, peptide, antibody, and the like), where such change may relate to an increase in biological activity (e.g., increased activity, agonism, activation, expression, upregulation, and/or increased expression) or decrease in biological activity (e.g., decreased activity, antagonism, suppression, deactivation, downregulation, and/or decreased expression) for the biological molecule. For example, the compounds described herein may modulate (i.e., inhibit) HDAC protein. In some embodiments, the compounds described herein may selectively modulate (i.e., selectively inhibit) a first HDAC protein as compared to a second HDAC protein. In certain embodiments, the compounds described herein may selectively modulate (i.e., selectively inhibit) HDAC6 protein as compared to other HDAC proteins including, but not limited to, HDAC1 and/or HDAC3. In certain embodiments, the compounds described herein may selectively modulate (i.e., selectively inhibit) HDAC6 protein as compared to HDAC1 protein. In certain embodiments, the compounds described herein may selectively modulate (i.e., selectively inhibit) HDAC6 protein as compared to HDAC3 protein.

In some embodiments, a selective HDAC6 inhibitor is a compound that is at least 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 times more selective for HDAC6 than HDAC1 as measured by determining the IC₅₀ values for the selective HDAC6 inhibitor in an in vitro HDAC enzyme inhibition assay comparing HDAC6 protein and HDAC1 protein, as described herein. In some embodiments, a selective HDAC6 inhibitor is a compound that is about 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 times more selective for HDAC6 than HDAC1 as measured by determining the IC₅₀ values for the selective HDAC6 inhibitor in an in vitro HDAC enzyme inhibition assay comparing HDAC6 protein and HDAC1 protein, as described herein.

In some embodiments, a selective HDAC6 inhibitor is a compound that is at least 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, or 55 times more selective for HDAC6 than HDAC3 as measured by determining the IC₅₀ values for the selective HDAC6 inhibitor in an in vitro HDAC enzyme inhibition assay comparing HDAC6 protein and HDAC3 protein. In some embodiments, a selective HDAC6 inhibitor is a compound that is about 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, or 55 times more selective for HDAC6 than HDAC3 as measured by determining the IC₅₀ values for the selective HDAC6 inhibitor in an in vitro HDAC enzyme inhibition assay comparing HDAC6 protein and HDAC3 protein.

The terms “QD,” “qd,” or “q.d.” mean quaque die, once a day, or once daily. The terms “BID,” “bid,” or “b.i.d.” mean bis in die, twice a day, or twice daily. The terms “TID,” “tid,” or “t.i.d.” mean ter in die, three times a day, or three times daily. The terms “QID,” “qid,” or “q.i.d.” mean quater in die, four times a day, or four times daily.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to salts derived from a variety of organic and inorganic counter ions known in the art. Pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts can be formed with inorganic acids and organic acids. Preferred inorganic acids from which salts can be derived include, for example, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid and phosphoric acid. Preferred organic acids from which salts can be derived include, for example, acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and salicylic acid. Pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts can be formed with inorganic and organic bases. Inorganic bases from which salts can be derived include, for example, sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and aluminum. Organic bases from which salts can be derived include, for example, primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines and basic ion exchange resins. Specific examples include isopropylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, and ethanolamine. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salt is chosen from ammonium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium salts. The term “cocrystal” refers to a molecular complex derived from a number of cocrystal formers known in the art. Unlike a salt, a cocrystal typically does not involve hydrogen transfer between the cocrystal and the drug, and instead involves intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, aromatic ring stacking, or dispersive forces, between the cocrystal former and the drug in the crystal structure.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” or “pharmaceutically acceptable excipient” or “physilogically compatible” carrier or carrier medium is intended to include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and inert ingredients. The use of such pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or pharmaceutically acceptable excipients for active pharmaceutical ingredients is well known in the art. Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20^(th) edition, A. R. Genaro et al., Part 5, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, pp. 669-1015 (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Md./Philadelphia, Pa.) (2000) discloses various carriers used in formulating pharmaceutical compositions and known techniques for the preparation thereof. Except insofar as any conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient is incompatible with the active pharmaceutical ingredient, its use in the therapeutic compositions of the invention is contemplated. Additional active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as other drugs, can also be incorporated into the described compositions and methods. Except insofar as any conventional pharmaceutical carrier medium is incompatible with either the compounds used as described herein, such as by producing an undesirable biological effect or otherwise interacting in a deleterious manner with any other component(s) of a formulation comprising such compounds or agents, its use is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention.

A “prodrug” refers to a derivative of a compound described herein, the pharmacologic action of which results from the conversion by chemical or metabolic processes in vivo to the active compound. Prodrugs include compounds wherein an amino acid residue, or a polypeptide chain of two or more (e.g., two, three or four) amino acid residues is covalently joined through an amide or ester bond to a free amino, hydroxyl or carboxylic acid group of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII. The amino acid residues include but are not limited to the 20 naturally occurring amino acids commonly designated by one or three letter symbols but also include, for example, 4-hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, desmosine, isodesmosine, 3-methylhistidine, beta-alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, citrulline, homocysteine, homoserine, ornithine and methionine sulfone. Additional types of prodrugs are also encompassed. For instance, free carboxyl groups can be derivatized as amides or alkyl esters (e.g., methyl esters and acetoxy methyl esters). Prodrug esters as employed herein includes esters and carbonates formed by reacting one or more hydroxyls of compounds of the method of the invention with alkyl, alkoxy, or aryl substituted acylating agents employing procedures known to those skilled in the art to generate acetates, pivalates, methylcarbonates, benzoates and the like. As further examples, free hydroxyl groups may be derivatized using groups including but not limited to hemisuccinates, phosphate esters, dimethylaminoacetates, and phosphoryloxymethyloxycarbonyls, as outlined in Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 1996, 19, 115. Carbamate prodrugs of hydroxyl and amino groups are also included, as are carbonate prodrugs, sulfonate prodrugs, sulfonate esters and sulfate esters of hydroxyl groups. Free amines can also be derivatized to amides, sulfonamides or phosphonamides. All of the stated prodrug moieties may incorporate groups including but not limited to ether, amine and carboxylic acid functionalities. Moreover, any compound that can be converted in vivo to provide the bioactive agent (e.g., a compound of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII) is a prodrug within the scope of the invention. Various forms of prodrugs are well known in the art. A comprehensive description of pro drugs and prodrug derivatives are described in: (a) The Practice of Medicinal Chemistry, Camille G. Wermuth et al., (Academic Press, 1996); (b) Design of Prodrugs, edited by H. Bundgaard, (Elsevier, 1985); (c) A Textbook of Drug Design and Development, P. Krogsgaard-Larson and H. Bundgaard, eds., (Harwood Academic Publishers, 1991). In general, prodrugs may be designed to improve the penetration of a drug across biological membranes in order to obtain improved drug absorption, to prolong duration of action of a drug (slow release of the parent drug from a prodrug, decreased first-pass metabolism of the drug), to target the drug action (e.g. organ or tumor-targeting, lymphocyte targeting), to modify or improve aqueous solubility of a drug (e.g., i.v. preparations and eyedrops), to improve topical drug delivery (e.g. dermal and ocular drug delivery), to improve the chemical/enzymatic stability of a drug, or to decrease off-target drug effects, and more generally in order to improve the therapeutic efficacy of the compounds utilized in the invention.

As used herein, the term “subject” or “patient” may refer to any mammal. Exemplary mammals include laboratory animals, including rodents such as mice, rats and guinea pigs; farm animals such as cows, sheep, pigs and goats; pet animals such as dogs and cats; and primates such as monkeys, apes and humans. In certain embodiments, the “subject” or “patient” is a human subject or patient.

Unless otherwise stated, the chemical structures depicted herein are intended to include compounds which differ only in the presence of one or more isotopically enriched atoms. For example, compounds where one or more hydrogen atoms is replaced by deuterium or tritium, or wherein one or more carbon atoms is replaced by ¹³C- or ¹⁴C-enriched carbons, are within the scope of this invention.

When ranges are used herein to describe, for example, physical or chemical properties such as molecular weight or chemical formulae, all combinations and subcombinations of ranges and specific embodiments therein are intended to be included. Use of the term “about” when referring to a number or a numerical range means that the number or numerical range referred to is an approximation within experimental variability (or within statistical experimental error), and thus the number or numerical range may vary. The variation is typically from 0% to 15%, preferably from 0% to 10%, more preferably from 0% to 5% of the stated number or numerical range. The term “comprising” (and related terms such as “comprise” or “comprises” or “having” or “including”) includes those embodiments such as, for example, an embodiment of any composition of matter, method or process that “consist of” or “consist essentially of” the described features.

“Alkyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain radical consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, containing no unsaturation, having from one to ten carbon atoms (e.g., (C₁₋₁₀)alkyl or C₁₋₁₀ alkyl). Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “1 to 10” refers to each integer in the given range—e.g., “1 to 10 carbon atoms” means that the alkyl group may consist of 1 carbon atom, 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, etc., up to and including 10 carbon atoms, although the definition is also intended to cover the occurrence of the term “alkyl” where no numerical range is specifically designated. Typical alkyl groups include, but are in no way limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl isobutyl, tertiary butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, septyl, octyl, nonyl and decyl. The alkyl moiety may be attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond, such as for example, methyl (Me), ethyl (Et), n-propyl (Pr), 1-methylethyl (isopropyl), n-butyl, n-pentyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl (t-butyl) and 3-methylhexyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkyl group is optionally substituted by one or more of substituents which are independently heteroalkyl, acylsulfonamido, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂ where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Alkylaryl” refers to an -(alkyl)aryl radical where aryl and alkyl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for aryl and alkyl respectively.

“Alkylhetaryl” refers to an -(alkyl)hetaryl radical where hetaryl and alkyl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for aryl and alkyl respectively.

“Alkylheterocycloalkyl” refers to an -(alkyl) heterocycyl radical where alkyl and heterocycloalkyl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for heterocycloalkyl and alkyl respectively.

An “alkene” moiety refers to a group consisting of at least two carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon double bond, and an “alkyne” moiety refers to a group consisting of at least two carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. The alkyl moiety, whether saturated or unsaturated, may be branched, straight chain, or cyclic.

“Alkenyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain radical group consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, containing at least one double bond, and having from two to ten carbon atoms (i.e., (C₂₋₁₀)alkenyl or C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl). Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “2 to 10” refers to each integer in the given range—e.g., “2 to 10 carbon atoms” means that the alkenyl group may consist of 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, etc., up to and including 10 carbon atoms. The alkenyl moiety may be attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond, such as for example, ethenyl (i.e., vinyl), prop-1-enyl (i.e., allyl), but-1-enyl, pent-1-enyl and penta-1,4-dienyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkenyl group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which are independently alkyl, heteroalkyl, acylsulfonamido, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Alkenyl-cycloalkyl” refers to an -(alkenyl)cycloalkyl radical where alkenyl and cycloalkyl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for alkenyl and cycloalkyl respectively.

“Alkynyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain radical group consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, containing at least one triple bond, having from two to ten carbon atoms (i.e., (C₂₋₁₀)alkynyl or C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl). Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “2 to 10” refers to each integer in the given range—e.g., “2 to 10 carbon atoms” means that the alkynyl group may consist of 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, etc., up to and including 10 carbon atoms. The alkynyl may be attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond, for example, ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl and hexynyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkynyl group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which independently are: alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, acylsulfonamido, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Alkynyl-cycloalkyl” refers to an -(alkynyl)cycloalkyl radical where alkynyl and cycloalkyl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for alkynyl and cycloalkyl respectively.

“Acylsulfonamide” refers to the group —C(═O)NR^(a)—S(═O)R^(a), where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl, or heteroarylalkyl.

“Carboxaldehyde” refers to a —(C═O)H radical.

“Carbonyl” refers to the group —C(═O)—. Carbonyl groups may be substituted with the following exemplary substituents: alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, acylsulfonamido, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —NR^(a)—OR^(a)—, —C(O)O R^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Carboxyl” refers to a —(C═O)OH radical.

“Cyano” refers to a —CN radical.

“Cycloalkyl” refers to a monocyclic or polycyclic radical that contains only carbon and hydrogen, and may be saturated, or partially unsaturated. Cycloalkyl groups include groups having from 3 to 10 ring atoms (i.e. (C₃₋₁₀)cycloalkyl or C₃₋₁₀ cycloalkyl). Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “3 to 10” refers to each integer in the given range—e.g., “3 to 10 carbon atoms” means that the cycloalkyl group may consist of 3 carbon atoms, etc., up to and including 10 carbon atoms. Illustrative examples of cycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to the following moieties: cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, cyclodecyl, norbornyl, and the like. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which independently are: alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, acylsulfonamido, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Cycloalkyl-alkenyl” refers to a -(cycloalkyl)alkenyl radical where cycloalkyl and alkenyl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for cycloalkyl and alkenyl, respectively.

“Cycloalkyl-heterocycloalkyl” refers to a -(cycloalkyl)heterocycloalkyl radical where cycloalkyl and heterocycloalkyl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for cycloalkyl and heterocycloalkyl, respectively.

“Cycloalkyl-heteroaryl” refers to a -(cycloalkyl)heteroaryl radical where cycloalkyl and heteroaryl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for cycloalkyl and heteroaryl, respectively.

The term “alkoxy” refers to the group —O-alkyl, including from 1 to 8 carbon atoms of a straight, branched, cyclic configuration and combinations thereof attached to the parent structure through an oxygen. Examples include, but are not limited to, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, cyclopropyloxy and cyclohexyloxy. “Lower alkoxy” refers to alkoxy groups containing one to six carbons.

The term “substituted alkoxy” refers to alkoxy wherein the alkyl constituent is substituted (i.e., —O-(substituted alkyl)). Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the alkyl moiety of an alkoxy group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which independently are: alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, acylsulfonamido, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

The term “alkoxycarbonyl” refers to a group of the formula (alkoxy)(C═O)— attached through the carbonyl carbon wherein the alkoxy group has the indicated number of carbon atoms. Thus a (C₁₋₆)alkoxycarbonyl group is an alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms attached through its oxygen to a carbonyl linker. “Lower alkoxycarbonyl” refers to an alkoxycarbonyl group wherein the alkoxy group is a lower alkoxy group.

The term “substituted alkoxycarbonyl” refers to the group (substituted alkyl)-O—C(O)— wherein the group is attached to the parent structure through the carbonyl functionality. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the alkyl moiety of an alkoxycarbonyl group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which independently are: alkyl, heteroalkyl, acylsulfonamido, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Acyl” refers to the groups (alkyl)-C(O)—, (aryl)-C(O)—, (heteroaryl)—C(O)—, (heteroalkyl)-C(O)— and (heterocycloalkyl)-C(O)—, wherein the group is attached to the parent structure through the carbonyl functionality. If the R radical is heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl, the hetero ring or chain atoms contribute to the total number of chain or ring atoms. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl moiety of the acyl group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which are independently alkyl, heteroalkyl, acylsulfonamido, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Acyloxy” refers to a R(C═O)O— radical wherein R is alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalkyl or heterocycloalkyl, which are as described herein. If the R radical is heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl, the hetero ring or chain atoms contribute to the total number of chain or ring atoms. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the R of an acyloxy group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which independently are: alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Amino” or “amine” refers to a —N(R^(a))₂ radical group, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification. When a —N(R^(a))₂ group has two R^(a) substituents other than hydrogen, they can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring. For example, —N(R^(a))₂ is intended to include, but is not limited to, 1-pyrrolidinyl and 4-morpholinyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an amino group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which independently are: alkyl, acylsulfonamido, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

The term “substituted amino” also refers to N-oxides of the groups —NHR^(a), and NR^(a)R^(a) each as described above. N-oxides can be prepared by treatment of the corresponding amino group with, for example, hydrogen peroxide or m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid.

“Amide” or “amido” refers to a chemical moiety with formula —C(O)N(R)₂ or —NHC(O)R, where R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl (bonded through a ring carbon) and heteroalicyclic (bonded through a ring carbon), each of which moiety may itself be optionally substituted. The R₂ of —N(R)₂ of the amide may optionally be taken together with the nitrogen to which it is attached to form a 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an amido group is optionally substituted independently by one or more of the substituents as described herein for alkyl, amino, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocycloalkyl. An amide may be an amino acid or a peptide molecule attached to a compound disclosed herein, thereby forming a prodrug. The procedures and specific groups to make such amides are known to those of skill in the art and can readily be found in seminal sources such as Greene and Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3^(rd) Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

“Aromatic” or “aryl” or “Ar” refers to an aromatic radical with six to ten ring atoms (e.g., C₆-C₁₀ aromatic or C₆-C₁₀ aryl) which has at least one ring having a conjugated pi electron system which is carbocyclic (e.g., phenyl, fluorenyl, and naphthyl). Bivalent radicals formed from substituted benzene derivatives and having the free valences at ring atoms are named as substituted phenylene radicals. Bivalent radicals derived from univalent polycyclic hydrocarbon radicals whose names end in “-yl” by removal of one hydrogen atom from the carbon atom with the free valence are named by adding “-idene” to the name of the corresponding univalent radical, e.g., a naphthyl group with two points of attachment is termed naphthylidene. Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “6 to 10” refers to each integer in the given range; e.g., “6 to 10 ring atoms” means that the aryl group may consist of 6 ring atoms, 7 ring atoms, etc., up to and including 10 ring atoms. The term includes monocyclic or fused-ring polycyclic (i.e., rings which share adjacent pairs of ring atoms) groups. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an aryl moiety is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which are independently alkyl, heteroalkyl, acylsulfonamido, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Aralkyl” or “arylalkyl” refers to an (aryl)alkyl-radical where aryl and alkyl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for aryl and alkyl respectively.

“Ester” refers to a chemical radical of formula —COOR, where R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl (bonded through a ring carbon) and heteroalicyclic (bonded through a ring carbon). The procedures and specific groups to make esters are known to those of skill in the art and can readily be found in seminal sources such as Greene and Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3^(rd) Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an ester group is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which independently are: alkyl, acylsulfonamido, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, nitro, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Fluoroalkyl” refers to an alkyl radical, as defined above, that is substituted by one or more fluoro radicals, as defined above, for example, trifluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 1-fluoromethyl-2-fluoroethyl, and the like. The alkyl part of the fluoroalkyl radical may be optionally substituted as defined above for an alkyl group.

“Halo,” “halide,” or, alternatively, “halogen” is intended to mean fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo. The terms “haloalkyl,” “haloalkenyl,” “haloalkynyl,” and “haloalkoxy” include alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and alkoxy structures that are substituted with one or more halo groups or with combinations thereof. For example, the terms “fluoroalkyl” and “fluoroalkoxy” include haloalkyl and haloalkoxy groups, respectively, in which the halo is fluorine.

“Heteroalkyl,” “heteroalkenyl,” and “heteroalkynyl” refer to optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl radicals and which have one or more skeletal chain atoms selected from an atom other than carbon, e.g., oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus or combinations thereof. A numerical range may be given—e.g., C₁-C₄ heteroalkyl which refers to the chain length in total, which in this example is 4 atoms long. A heteroalkyl group may be substituted with one or more substituents which independently are: alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, acylsulfonamido, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, nitro, oxo, thioxo, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R)C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Heteroalkylaryl” refers to an -(heteroalkyl)aryl radical where heteroalkyl and aryl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for heteroalkyl and aryl, respectively.

“Heteroalkylheteroaryl” refers to an -(heteroalkyl)heteroaryl radical where heteroalkyl and heteroaryl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for heteroalkyl and heteroaryl, respectively.

“Heteroalkylheterocycloalkyl” refers to an (heteroalkyl)heterocycloalkyl radical where heteroalkyl and heterocycloalkyl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for heteroalkyl and heterocycloalkyl, respectively.

“Heteroalkylcycloalkyl” refers to an -(heteroalkyl)cycloalkyl radical where heteroalkyl and cycloalkyl are as disclosed herein and which are optionally substituted by one or more of the substituents described as suitable substituents for heteroalkyl and cycloalkyl, respectively.

“Heteroaryl” or “heteroaromatic” or “HetAr” refers to a 5- to 18-membered aromatic radical (e.g., C₅-C₁₃ heteroaryl) that includes one or more ring heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, and which may be a monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic ring system. Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “5 to 18” refers to each integer in the given range—e.g., “5 to 18 ring atoms” means that the heteroaryl group may consist of 5 ring atoms, 6 ring atoms, etc., up to and including 18 ring atoms. Bivalent radicals derived from univalent heteroaryl radicals whose names end in “-yl” by removal of one hydrogen atom from the atom with the free valence are named by adding “-idene” to the name of the corresponding univalent radical—e.g., a pyridyl group with two points of attachment is a pyridylidene. A N-containing “heteroaromatic” or “heteroaryl” moiety refers to an aromatic group in which at least one of the skeletal atoms of the ring is a nitrogen atom. The polycyclic heteroaryl group may be fused or non-fused. The heteroatom(s) in the heteroaryl radical are optionally oxidized. One or more nitrogen atoms, if present, are optionally quaternized. The heteroaryl may be attached to the rest of the molecule through any atom of the ring(s). Examples of heteroaryls include, but are not limited to, azepinyl, acridinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzindolyl, 1,3-benzodioxolyl, benzofuranyl, benzooxazolyl, benzo[d]thiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzo[b][1,4]dioxepinyl, benzo[b][1,4]oxazinyl, 1,4-benzodioxanyl, benzonaphthofuranyl, benzoxazolyl, benzodioxolyl, benzodioxinyl, benzoxazolyl, benzopyranyl, benzopyranonyl, benzofuranyl, benzofuranonyl, benzofurazanyl, benzothiazolyl, benzothienyl(benzothiophenyl), benzothieno[3,2-d]pyrimidinyl, benzotriazolyl, benzo[4,6]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl, carbazolyl, cinnolinyl, cyclopenta[d]pyrimidinyl, 6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidinyl, 5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]quinazolinyl, 5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]cinnolinyl, 6,7-dihydro-5H-benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2-c]pyridazinyl, dibenzofuranyl, dibenzothiophenyl, furanyl, furazanyl, furanonyl, furo[3,2-c]pyridinyl, 5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrocycloocta[d]pyrimidinyl, 5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrocycloocta[d]pyridazinyl, 5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrocycloocta[d]pyridinyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, indazolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolyl, indolizinyl, isoxazolyl, isoxazol-3-one, 5,8-methano-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazolinyl, naphthyridinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinonyl, oxadiazolyl, 2-oxoazepinyl, oxazolyl, oxiranyl, 5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,10a-octahydrobenzo[h]quinazolinyl, 1-phenyl-1H-pyrrolyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, phenoxazinyl, phthalazinyl, pteridinyl, purinyl, pyranyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidinyl, pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazolinyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidinyl, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-cyclohepta[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidinyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrido[4,5-c]pyridazinyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiapyranyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazinyl, thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidinyl, thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidinyl, thieno[2,3-c]pyridinyl, and thiophenyl (i.e. thienyl). Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a heteroaryl moiety is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which are independently: alkyl, acylsulfonamido, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, nitro, oxo, thioxo, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

Substituted heteroaryl also includes ring systems substituted with one or more oxide (—O—) substituents, such as, for example, pyridinyl N-oxides.

“Heteroarylalkyl” refers to a moiety having an aryl moiety, as described herein, connected to an alkylene moiety, as described herein, wherein the connection to the remainder of the molecule is through the alkylene group.

“Heterocycloalkyl” refers to a stable 3- to 18-membered non-aromatic ring radical that comprises two to twelve carbon atoms and from one to six heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “3 to 18” refers to each integer in the given range—e.g., “3 to 18 ring atoms” means that the heterocycloalkyl group may consist of 3 ring atoms, 4 ring atoms, etc., up to and including 18 ring atoms. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the heterocycloalkyl radical is a monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic ring system, which may include fused or bridged ring systems. The heteroatoms in the heterocycloalkyl radical may be optionally oxidized. One or more nitrogen atoms, if present, are optionally quaternized. The heterocycloalkyl radical is partially or fully saturated. The heterocycloalkyl may be attached to the rest of the molecule through any atom of the ring(s). Examples of such heterocycloalkyl radicals include, but are not limited to, dioxolanyl, thienyl[1,3]dithianyl, decahydroisoquinolyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, octahydroindolyl, octahydroisoindolyl, 2-oxopiperazinyl, 2-oxopiperidinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, oxazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-piperidonyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, quinuclidinyl, thiazolidinyl, tetrahydrofuryl, trithianyl, tetrahydropyranyl, thiomorpholinyl, thiamorpholinyl, 1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl, and 1,1-dioxo-thiomorpholinyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a heterocycloalkyl moiety is optionally substituted by one or more substituents which independently are: alkyl, acylsulfonamido, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, hydroxy, halo, cyano, nitro, oxo, thioxo, trimethylsilanyl, —OR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(O)_(t)R^(a)— (where t is 1 or 2), —OC(O)—R^(a), —N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)R^(a), —C(O)OR^(a), —OC(O)N(R^(a))₂, —C(O)N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))C(O)OR^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(O)N(R^(a))₂, N(R^(a))C(NR^(a))N(R^(a))₂, —N(R^(a))S(O)_(t)R^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)OR^(a) (where t is 1 or 2), —S(O)_(t)N(R^(a))₂ (where t is 1 or 2), or PO₃(R^(a))₂, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Heterocycloalkyl” also includes bicyclic ring systems wherein one non-aromatic ring, usually with 3 to 7 ring atoms, contains at least 2 carbon atoms in addition to 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen, as well as combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing heteroatoms; and the other ring, usually with 3 to 7 ring atoms, optionally contains 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen and is not aromatic.

“Hydroxamate” refers to the —C(O)NR^(a)OR^(a) moiety, where each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, carbocyclyl, carbocyclylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl.

“Nitro” refers to the —NO₂ radical.

“Oxa” refers to the —O— radical.

“Oxo” refers to the ═O radical.

As used herein, the term “substituted” means that the referenced group may have attached one or more additional groups, radicals or moieties individually and independently selected from, for example, acyl, alkyl, alkylaryl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, carbohydrate, carbonate, heteroaryl, heterocycloalkyl, hydroxamate, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, mercapto, alkylthio, arylthio, cyano, halo, carbonyl, ester, thiocarbonyl, isocyanato, thiocyanato, isothiocyanato, nitro, oxo, perhaloalkyl, perfluoroalkyl, phosphate, silyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamidyl, sulfoxyl, sulfonate, urea, and amino, including mono- and di-substituted amino groups, and protected derivatives thereof. The substituents themselves may be substituted, for example, a cycloalkyl substituent may itself have a halide substituent at one or more of its ring carbons. The term “optionally substituted” means optional substitution with the specified groups, radicals or moieties. The chemical moieties of formulas Ia, Ib, II, and/or III, above, that may be optionally substituted include alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, aryl, heterocycle, and heteroaryl. For example, optionally substituted alkyl may include both propyl and 2-chloro-propyl. Additionally, “optionally substituted” is also inclusive of embodiments where the named substituent or substituents have multiple substituents rather than simply a single substituent. For example, optionally substituted aryl may include both phenyl and 3-methyl-5-ethyl-6-chloro-phenyl.

“Isomers” are different compounds that have the same molecular formula. “Stereoisomers” are isomers that differ only in the way the atoms are arranged in space—i.e., having a different stereochemical configuration. “Enantiomers” are a pair of stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. A 1:1 mixture of a pair of enantiomers is a “racemic” mixture. The term “(±)” is used to designate a racemic mixture where appropriate. “Diastereoisomers” are stereoisomers that have at least two asymmetric atoms, but which are not mirror-images of each other. The absolute stereochemistry is specified according to the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog R-S system. When a compound is a pure enantiomer the stereochemistry at each chiral carbon can be specified by either (R) or (S). Resolved compounds whose absolute configuration is unknown can be designated (+) or (−) depending on the direction (dextro- or levorotatory) which they rotate plane polarized light at the wavelength of the sodium D line. Certain of the compounds described herein contain one or more asymmetric centers and can thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers, and other stereoisomeric forms that can be defined, in terms of absolute stereochemistry, as (R) or (S). The present chemical entities, pharmaceutical compositions and methods are meant to include all such possible isomers, including racemic mixtures, optically pure forms and intermediate mixtures. Optically active (R)- and (S)-isomers can be prepared using chiral synthons or chiral reagents, or resolved using conventional techniques. When the compounds described herein contain olefinic double bonds or other centers of geometric asymmetry, and unless specified otherwise, it is intended that the compounds include both E and Z geometric isomers.

“Enantiomeric purity” as used herein refers to the relative amounts, expressed as a percentage, of the presence of a specific enantiomer relative to the other enantiomer. For example, if a compound, which may potentially have an (R)- or an (S)-isomeric configuration, is present as a racemic mixture, the enantiomeric purity is about 50% with respect to either the (R)- or (S)-isomer. If that compound has one isomeric form predominant over the other, for example, 80% (S)-isomer and 20% (R)-isomer, the enantiomeric purity of the compound with respect to the (S)-isomeric form is 80%. The enantiomeric purity of a compound can be determined in a number of ways known in the art, including but not limited to chromatography using a chiral support, polarimetric measurement of the rotation of polarized light, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using chiral shift reagents which include but are not limited to lanthanide containing chiral complexes or Pirkle's reagents, or derivatization of a compounds using a chiral compound such as Mosher's acid followed by chromatography or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

In some embodiments, the enantiomerically enriched composition has a higher potency with respect to therapeutic utility per unit mass than does the racemic mixture of that composition. Enantiomers can be isolated from mixtures by methods known to those skilled in the art, including chiral high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the formation and crystallization of chiral salts; or preferred enantiomers can be prepared by asymmetric syntheses. See, for example, Jacques, et al., Enantiomers, Racemates and Resolutions, Wiley Interscience, New York (1981); E. L. Eliel, Stereochemistry of Carbon Compounds, McGraw-Hill, New York (1962); and E. L. Eliel and S. H. Wilen, Stereochemistry of Organic Compounds, Wiley-Interscience, New York (1994).

The terms “enantiomerically enriched” and “non-racemic,” as used herein, refer to compositions in which the percent by weight of one enantiomer is greater than the amount of that one enantiomer in a control mixture of the racemic composition (e.g., greater than 1:1 by weight). For example, an enantiomerically enriched preparation of the (S)-enantiomer, means a preparation of the compound having greater than 50% by weight of the (S)-enantiomer relative to the (R)-enantiomer, such as at least 75% by weight, or such as at least 80% by weight. In some embodiments, the enrichment can be significantly greater than 80% by weight, providing a “substantially enantiomerically enriched” or a “substantially non-racemic” preparation, which refers to preparations of compositions which have at least 85% by weight of one enantiomer relative to other enantiomer, such as at least 90% by weight, or such as at least 95% by weight. The terms “enantiomerically pure” or “substantially enantiomerically pure” refers to a composition that comprises at least 98% of a single enantiomer and less than 2% of the opposite enantiomer.

“Moiety” refers to a specific segment or functional group of a molecule. Chemical moieties are often recognized chemical entities embedded in or appended to a molecule.

“Tautomers” are structurally distinct isomers that interconvert by tautomerization. “Tautomerization” is a form of isomerization and includes prototropic or proton-shift tautomerization, which is considered a subset of acid-base chemistry. “Prototropic tautomerization” or “proton-shift tautomerization” involves the migration of a proton accompanied by changes in bond order, often the interchange of a single bond with an adjacent double bond. Where tautomerization is possible (e.g., in solution), a chemical equilibrium of tautomers can be reached. An example of tautomerization is keto-enol tautomerization. A specific example of keto-enol tautomerization is the interconversion of pentane-2,4-dione and 4-hydroxypent-3-en-2-one tautomers. Another example of tautomerization is phenol-keto tautomerization. A specific example of phenol-keto tautomerization is the interconversion of pyridin-4-ol and pyridin-4(1H)-one tautomers.

A “leaving group or atom” is any group or atom that will, under selected reaction conditions, cleave from the starting material, thus promoting reaction at a specified site. Examples of such groups, unless otherwise specified, include halogen atoms and mesyloxy, p-nitrobenzensulphonyloxy and tosyloxy groups.

“Protecting group” is intended to mean a group that selectively blocks one or more reactive sites in a multifunctional compound such that a chemical reaction can be carried out selectively on another unprotected reactive site and the group can then be readily removed or deprotected after the selective reaction is complete. A variety of protecting groups are disclosed, for example, in T. H. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1999).

“Solvate” refers to a compound in physical association with one or more molecules of a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent.

Compounds of the invention also include crystalline and amorphous forms of those compounds, including, for example, polymorphs, pseudopolymorphs, solvates, hydrates, unsolvated polymorphs (including anhydrates), conformational polymorphs, and amorphous forms of the compounds, as well as mixtures thereof “Crystalline form” and “polymorph” are intended to include all crystalline and amorphous forms of the compound, including, for example, polymorphs, pseudopolymorphs, solvates, hydrates, unsolvated polymorphs (including anhydrates), conformational polymorphs, and amorphous forms, as well as mixtures thereof, unless a particular crystalline or amorphous form is referred to.

Compounds of the invention also include antibodies. The terms “antibody” and its plural form “antibodies” refer to whole immunoglobulins and any antigen-binding fragment (“antigen-binding portion”) or single chains thereof. An “antibody” further refers to a glycoprotein comprising at least two heavy (H) chains and two light (L) chains inter-connected by disulfide bonds, or an antigen-binding portion thereof. Each heavy chain is comprised of a heavy chain variable region (abbreviated herein as V_(H)) and a heavy chain constant region. The heavy chain constant region is comprised of three domains, CH1, CH2 and CH3. Each light chain is comprised of a light chain variable region (abbreviated herein as V_(L)) and a light chain constant region. The light chain constant region is comprised of one domain, C_(L). The V_(H) and V_(L) regions of an antibody may be further subdivided into regions of hypervariability, which are referred to as complementarity determining regions (CDR) or hypervariable regions (HVR), and which can be interspersed with regions that are more conserved, termed framework regions (FR). Each V_(H) and V_(L) is composed of three CDRs and four FRs, arranged from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus in the following order: FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, FR4. The variable regions of the heavy and light chains contain a binding domain that interacts with an antigen epitope or epitopes. The constant regions of the antibodies may mediate the binding of the immunoglobulin to host tissues or factors, including various cells of the immune system (e.g., effector cells) and the first component (Clq) of the classical complement system.

The terms “monoclonal antibody,” “mAb,” “monoclonal antibody composition,” or their plural forms refer to a preparation of antibody molecules of single molecular composition. A monoclonal antibody composition displays a single binding specificity and affinity for a particular epitope. Monoclonal antibodies recited herein and/or those specific to, e.g., PD-1 or PD-L1, can be made using knowledge and skill in the art of injecting test subjects with a corresponding antigen and then isolating hybridomas expressing antibodies having the desired sequence or functional characteristics. DNA encoding the monoclonal antibodies is readily isolated and sequenced using conventional procedures (e.g., by using oligonucleotide probes that are capable of binding specifically to genes encoding the heavy and light chains of the monoclonal antibodies). The hybridoma cells serve as a preferred source of such DNA. Once isolated, the DNA may be placed into expression vectors, which are then transfected into host cells such as E. coli cells, simian COS cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, or myeloma cells that do not otherwise produce immunoglobulin protein, to obtain the synthesis of monoclonal antibodies in the recombinant host cells. Recombinant production of antibodies will be described in more detail below.

The terms “antigen-binding portion” or “antigen-binding fragment” of an antibody (or simply “antibody portion”), as used herein, refers to one or more fragments of an antibody that retain the ability to specifically bind to an antigen. It has been shown that the antigen-binding function of an antibody can be performed by fragments of a full-length antibody. Examples of binding fragments encompassed within the term “antigen-binding portion” of an antibody include (i) a Fab fragment, a monovalent fragment consisting of the V_(L), V_(H), C_(L) and CH1 domains; (ii) a F(ab′)2 fragment, a bivalent fragment comprising two Fab fragments linked by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region; (iii) a Fd fragment consisting of the V_(H) and CH1 domains; (iv) a Fv fragment consisting of the V_(L) and V_(H) domains of a single arm of an antibody, (v) a domain antibody (dAb) fragment (Ward et al., Nature, 1989, 341, 544-546), which may consist of a V_(H) or a V_(L) domain; and (vi) an isolated complementarity determining region (CDR). Furthermore, although the two domains of the Fv fragment, V_(L) and V_(H), are coded for by separate genes, they can be joined, using recombinant methods, by a synthetic linker that enables them to be made as a single protein chain in which the V_(L) and V_(H) regions pair to form monovalent molecules known as single chain Fv (scFv); see, e.g., Bird et al., Science 1988, 242, 423-426; and Huston et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1988, 85, 5879-5883). Such scFv antibodies are also intended to be encompassed within the terms “antigen-binding portion” or “antigen-binding fragment” of an antibody. These antibody fragments are obtained using conventional techniques known to those with skill in the art, and the fragments are screened for utility in the same manner as are intact antibodies.

The term “human antibody,” as used herein, is intended to include antibodies having variable regions in which both the framework and CDR regions are derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences. Furthermore, if the antibody contains a constant region, the constant region also is derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences. The human antibodies of the invention may include amino acid residues not encoded by human germline immunoglobulin sequences (e.g., mutations introduced by random or site-specific mutagenesis in vitro or by somatic mutation in vivo). The term “human antibody”, as used herein, is not intended to include antibodies in which CDR sequences derived from the germline of another mammalian species, such as a mouse, have been grafted onto human framework sequences.

The term “human monoclonal antibody” refers to antibodies displaying a single binding specificity which have variable regions in which both the framework and CDR regions are derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences. In one embodiment, the human monoclonal antibodies are produced by a hybridoma which includes a B cell obtained from a transgenic nonhuman animal, e.g., a transgenic mouse, having a genome comprising a human heavy chain transgene and a light chain transgene fused to an immortalized cell.

The term “recombinant human antibody”, as used herein, includes all human antibodies that are prepared, expressed, created or isolated by recombinant means, such as (a) antibodies isolated from an animal (e.g., a mouse) that is transgenic or transchromosomal for human immunoglobulin genes or a hybridoma prepared therefrom (described further below), (b) antibodies isolated from a host cell transformed to express the human antibody, e.g., from a transfectoma, (c) antibodies isolated from a recombinant, combinatorial human antibody library, and (d) antibodies prepared, expressed, created or isolated by any other means that involve splicing of human immunoglobulin gene sequences to other DNA sequences. Such recombinant human antibodies have variable regions in which the framework and CDR regions are derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences. In certain embodiments, however, such recombinant human antibodies can be subjected to in vitro mutagenesis (or, when an animal transgenic for human Ig sequences is used, in vivo somatic mutagenesis) and thus the amino acid sequences of the V_(H) and V_(L) regions of the recombinant antibodies are sequences that, while derived from and related to human germline V_(H) and V_(L) sequences, may not naturally exist within the human antibody germline repertoire in vivo.

As used herein, “isotype” refers to the antibody class (e.g., IgM or IgG1) that is encoded by the heavy chain constant region genes. In mammals, there are five antibody isotypes: IgA, IgD, IgG, IgM and IgE. In humans, there are four subclasses of the IgG isotype: IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4, and two subclasses of the IgA isotype: IgA1 and IgA2.

The phrases “an antibody recognizing an antigen” and “an antibody specific for an antigen” are used interchangeably herein with the term “an antibody which binds specifically to an antigen.”

The term “human antibody derivatives” refers to any modified form of the human antibody, e.g., a conjugate of the antibody and another active pharmaceutical ingredient or antibody. The terms “conjugate,” “antibody-drug conjugate”, “ADC,” or “immunoconjugate” refers to an antibody, or a fragment thereof, conjugated to a therapeutic moiety, such as a bacterial toxin, a cytotoxic drug or a radionuclide-containing toxin. Toxic moieties can be conjugated to antibodies of the invention using methods available in the art.

The terms “humanized antibody,” “humanized antibodies,” and “humanized” are intended to refer to antibodies in which CDR sequences derived from the germline of another mammalian species, such as a mouse, have been grafted onto human framework sequences. Additional framework region modifications may be made within the human framework sequences. Humanized forms of non-human (for example, murine) antibodies are chimeric antibodies that contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. For the most part, humanized antibodies are human immunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residues from a hypervariable region of the recipient are replaced by residues from a 15 hypervariable region of a non-human species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat, rabbit or nonhuman primate having the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity. In some instances, Fv framework region (FR) residues of the human immunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues. Furthermore, humanized antibodies may comprise residues that are not found in the recipient antibody or in the donor antibody. These modifications are made to further refine antibody performance. In general, the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the hypervariable loops correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FR regions are those of a human immunoglobulin sequence. The humanized antibody optionally also will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin. For further details, see Jones et al., Nature 1986, 321, 522-525; Riechmann et al., Nature 1988, 332, 323-329; and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 1992, 2, 593-596.

The term “chimeric antibody” is intended to refer to antibodies in which the variable region sequences are derived from one species and the constant region sequences are derived from another species, such as an antibody in which the variable region sequences are derived from a mouse antibody and the constant region sequences are derived from a human antibody.

A “diabody” is a small antibody fragment with two antigen-binding sites. The fragments comprise a heavy chain variable domain (V_(H)) connected to a light chain variable domain (V_(L)) in the same polypeptide chain (V_(H)-V_(L) or V_(L)-V_(H)). By using a linker that is too short to allow pairing between the two domains on the same chain, the domains are forced to pair with the complementary domains of another chain and create two antigen-binding sites. Diabodies are described more fully in, e.g., European Patent No. EP 404,097, International Patent Publication No. WO 93/11161; and Bolliger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1993, 90, 6444-6448.

The term “glycosylation” refers to a modified derivative of an antibody. An aglycoslated antibody lacks glycosylation. Glycosylation can be altered to, for example, increase the affinity of the antibody for antigen. Such carbohydrate modifications can be accomplished by, for example, altering one or more sites of glycosylation within the antibody sequence. For example, one or more amino acid substitutions can be made that result in elimination of one or more variable region framework glycosylation sites to thereby eliminate glycosylation at that site. Aglycosylation may increase the affinity of the antibody for antigen, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,714,350 and 6,350,861. Additionally or alternatively, an antibody can be made that has an altered type of glycosylation, such as a hypofucosylated antibody having reduced amounts of fucosyl residues or an antibody having increased bisecting GlcNac structures. Such altered glycosylation patterns have been demonstrated to increase the ability of antibodies. Such carbohydrate modifications can be accomplished by, for example, expressing the antibody in a host cell with altered glycosylation machinery. Cells with altered glycosylation machinery have been described in the art and can be used as host cells in which to express recombinant antibodies of the invention to thereby produce an antibody with altered glycosylation. For example, the cell lines Ms704, Ms705, and Ms709 lack the fucosyltransferase gene, FUT8 (alpha (1,6) fucosyltransferase), such that antibodies expressed in the Ms704, Ms705, and Ms709 cell lines lack fucose on their carbohydrates. The Ms704, Ms705, and Ms709 FUT8−/−cell lines were created by the targeted disruption of the FUT8 gene in CHO/DG44 cells using two replacement vectors (see e.g. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0110704 or Yamane-Ohnuki, et al. Biotechnol. Bioeng., 2004, 87, 614-622). As another example, European Patent No. EP 1,176,195 describes a cell line with a functionally disrupted FUT8 gene, which encodes a fucosyl transferase, such that antibodies expressed in such a cell line exhibit hypofucosylation by reducing or eliminating the alpha 1,6 bond-related enzyme, and also describes cell lines which have a low enzyme activity for adding fucose to the N-acetylglucosamine that binds to the Fc region of the antibody or does not have the enzyme activity, for example the rat myeloma cell line YB2/0 (ATCC CRL 1662). International Patent Publication WO 03/035835 describes a variant CHO cell line, Lec 13 cells, with reduced ability to attach fucose to Asn(297)-linked carbohydrates, also resulting in hypofucosylation of antibodies expressed in that host cell (see also Shields, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 2002, 277, 26733-26740. International Patent Publication WO 99/54342 describes cell lines engineered to express glycoprotein-modifying glycosyl transferases (e.g., beta(1,4)-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnTIII)) such that antibodies expressed in the engineered cell lines exhibit increased bisecting GlcNac structures which results in increased ADCC activity of the antibodies (see also Umana, et al., Nat. Biotech. 1999, 17, 176-180). Alternatively, the fucose residues of the antibody may be cleaved off using a fucosidase enzyme. For example, the fucosidase alpha-L-fucosidase removes fucosyl residues from antibodies as described in Tarentino, et al., Biochem. 1975, 14, 5516-5523.

“Pegylation” refers to a modified antibody, or a fragment thereof, that typically is reacted with polyethylene glycol (PEG), such as a reactive ester or aldehyde derivative of PEG, under conditions in which one or more PEG groups become attached to the antibody or antibody fragment. Pegylation may, for example, increase the biological (e.g., serum) half life of the antibody. Preferably, the pegylation is carried out via an acylation reaction or an alkylation reaction with a reactive PEG molecule (or an analogous reactive water-soluble polymer). As used herein, the term “polyethylene glycol” is intended to encompass any of the forms of PEG that have been used to derivatize other proteins, such as mono (C₁-C₁₀) alkoxy- or aryloxy-polyethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol-maleimide. The antibody to be pegylated may be an aglycosylated antibody. Methods for pegylation are known in the art and can be applied to the antibodies of the invention, as described for example in European Patent Nos. EP 0154316 and EP 0401384.

The term “radioisotope-labeled complex” refers to both non-covalent and covalent attachment of a radioactive isotope, such as ⁹⁰Y, ¹¹¹In, or ¹³¹I, to an antibody, including conjugates.

The term “biosimilar” means a biological product that is highly similar to a U.S. licensed reference biological product notwithstanding minor differences in clinically inactive components, and for which there are no clinically meaningful differences between the biological product and the reference product in terms of the safety, purity, and potency of the product. Furthermore, a similar biological or “biosimilar” medicine is a biological medicine that is similar to another biological medicine that has already been authorized for use by the European Medicines Agency. The term “biosimilar” is also used synonymously by other national and regional regulatory agencies. Biological products or biological medicines are medicines that are made by or derived from a biological source, such as a bacterium or yeast. They can consist of relatively small molecules such as human insulin or erythropoietin, or complex molecules such as monoclonal antibodies. For example, if the reference anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody is rituximab, an anti-CD20 biosimilar monoclonal antibody approved by drug regulatory authorities with reference to rituximab is a “biosimilar to” rituximab or is a “biosimilar thereof” of rituximab. In Europe, a similar biological or “biosimilar” medicine is a biological medicine that is similar to another biological medicine that has already been authorized for use by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The relevant legal basis for similar biological applications in Europe is Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 and Article 10(4) of Directive 2001/83/EC, as amended and therefore in Europe, the biosimilar may be authorised, approved for authorisation or subject of an application for authorisation under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 and Article 10(4) of Directive 2001/83/EC. The already authorized original biological medicinal product may be referred to as a “reference medicinal product” in Europe. Some of the requirements for a product to be considered a biosimilar are outlined in the CHMP Guideline on Similar Biological Medicinal Products. In addition, product specific guidelines, including guidelines relating to monoclonal antibody biosimilars, are provided on a product-by-product basis by the EMA and published on its website. A biosimilar as described herein may be similar to the reference medicinal product by way of quality characteristics, biological activity, mechanism of action, safety profiles and/or efficacy. In addition, the biosimilar may be used or be intended for use to treat the same conditions as the reference medicinal product. Thus, a biosimilar as described herein may be deemed to have similar or highly similar quality characteristics to a reference medicinal product. Alternatively, or in addition, a biosimilar as described herein may be deemed to have similar or highly similar biological activity to a reference medicinal product. Alternatively, or in addition, a biosimilar as described herein may be deemed to have a similar or highly similar safety profile to a reference medicinal product. Alternatively, or in addition, a biosimilar as described herein may be deemed to have similar or highly similar efficacy to a reference medicinal product. As described herein, a biosimilar in Europe is compared to a reference medicinal product which has been authorised by the EMA. However, in some instances, the biosimilar may be compared to a biological medicinal product which has been authorised outside the European Economic Area (a non-EEA authorised “comparator”) in certain studies. Such studies include for example certain clinical and in vivo non-clinical studies. As used herein, the term “biosimilar” also relates to a biological medicinal product which has been or may be compared to a non-EEA authorised comparator. Certain biosimilars are proteins such as antibodies, antibody fragments (for example, antigen binding portions) and fusion proteins. A protein biosimilar may have an amino acid sequence that has minor modifications in the amino acid structure (including for example deletions, additions, and/or substitutions of amino acids) which do not significantly affect the function of the polypeptide. The biosimilar may comprise an amino acid sequence having a sequence identity of 97% or greater to the amino acid sequence of its reference medicinal product, e.g., 97%, 98%, 99% or 100%. The biosimilar may comprise one or more post-translational modifications, for example, although not limited to, glycosylation, oxidation, deamidation, and/or truncation which is/are different to the post-translational modifications of the reference medicinal product, provided that the differences do not result in a change in safety and/or efficacy of the medicinal product. The biosimilar may have an identical or different glycosylation pattern to the reference medicinal product. Particularly, although not exclusively, the biosimilar may have a different glycosylation pattern if the differences address or are intended to address safety concerns associated with the reference medicinal product. Additionally, the biosimilar may deviate from the reference medicinal product in for example its strength, pharmaceutical form, formulation, excipients and/or presentation, providing safety and efficacy of the medicinal product is not compromised. The biosimilar may comprise differences in for example pharmacokinetic (PK) and/or pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles as compared to the reference medicinal product but is still deemed sufficiently similar to the reference medicinal product as to be authorised or considered suitable for authorisation. In certain circumstances, the biosimilar exhibits different binding characteristics as compared to the reference medicinal product, wherein the different binding characteristics are considered by a Regulatory Authority such as the EMA not to be a barrier for authorisation as a similar biological product. The term “biosimilar” is also used synonymously by other national and regional regulatory agencies.

The terms “sequence identity,” “percent identity,” and “sequence percent identity” in the context of two or more nucleic acids or polypeptides, refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of nucleotides or amino acid residues that are the same, when compared and aligned (introducing gaps, if necessary) for maximum correspondence, not considering any conservative amino acid substitutions as part of the sequence identity. The percent identity can be measured using sequence comparison software or algorithms or by visual inspection. Various algorithms and software are known in the art that can be used to obtain alignments of amino acid or nucleotide sequences. Suitable programs to determine percent sequence identity include for example the BLAST suite of programs available from the U.S. Government's National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST web site. Comparisons between two sequences can be carried using either the BLASTN or BLASTP algorithm. BLASTN is used to compare nucleic acid sequences, while BLASTP is used to compare amino acid sequences. ALIGN, ALIGN-2 (Genentech, South San Francisco, Calif.) or MegAlign, available from DNASTAR, are additional publicly available software programs that can be used to align sequences. One skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for maximal alignment by particular alignment software. In certain embodiments, the default parameters of the alignment software are used.

Certain embodiments described herein may comprise a variant of an antibody. As used herein, the term “variant” encompasses but is not limited to antibodies which comprise an amino acid sequence which differs from the amino acid sequence of a reference antibody by way of one or more substitutions, deletions and/or additions at certain positions within or adjacent to the amino acid sequence of the reference antibody. The variant may comprise one or more conservative substitutions in its amino acid sequence as compared to the amino acid sequence of a reference antibody. Conservative substitutions may involve, e.g., the substitution of similarly charged or uncharged amino acids. The variant retains the ability to specifically bind to the antigen of the reference antibody.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is intended herein that particular features (for example integers, characteristics, values, uses, diseases, formulae, compounds or groups) described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood as applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. Thus such features may be used where appropriate in conjunction with any of the definition, claims or embodiments defined herein. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to any details of any disclosed embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Protein

Histone acetylation and deacetylation play important roles in chromatin folding and maintenance. Acetylation appears to play a role in the epigenetic regulation of chromatin structure, and gene expression, through the balance of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities. Increased acetylation of histones leads to changes in chromatin structure and accessibility for key cellular proteins to specific target sites. HATs acetylate lysine groups at the amino terminal tails of nuclear histones to neutralize positive charges on the histones, yielding a more open, transcriptionally active chromatin structure. In contrast, the HDACs deacetylate and suppress transcription. In this model, inhibitors of HDACs bias the balance toward a more acetylated state. Such a shift in the relative activities of these enzymes may affect gene expression necessary for DNA repair, replication, cell cycle checkpoint activation and tumor suppression.

Human HDACs may be divided into four classes based on structure, sequence homology, and domain organization. Class I consists of HDACs 1, 2, 3, 8, and 11, albeit a recent report puts HDAC 11 into a new class, class IV, based on a phylogenetic analysis. Class I HDACs are nuclear and play roles in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Class II includes HDACs 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10. These enzymes are characterized by a large NH₂-terminal domain or a second catalytic site and their expression is more restricted, suggesting roles in cellular differentiation and development. Class III enzymes, include the sirtuins (SIRTs), and are NAD-dependent deacetylases. These are not inhibited by Trichostatin A (TSA) or other hydroxamates.

HDACs are found in the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. Although they are involved in critical cellular functions, such as cell cycle regulation and apoptosis, a key function of HDACs is transcriptional regulation. HDACs function as components of large multi-protein complexes that bind to promoters and repress transcription. Class II compounds shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. However, certain classes of HDACs have conserved deacetylase core domains of approximately 400 amino acids and zinc binding sites. It is the core domain that presents the principal target for design of inhibitory small molecules.

In response to DNA damage, signal transduction pathways may be activated to regulate cell cycle arrest, repair, differentiation, apoptosis, and transcription. Such responses are a complex feature of the cellular radiation phenotype, and their effectiveness may determine cell survival or death. DNA damage checkpoints generate signals that arrest cell cycle progression until the damage is repaired. When damaged DNA is repaired, checkpoint signals are reversed to resume cell cycle progression. Such DNA-directed processes are accompanied by highly localized changes in chromatin structure. Various recent studies have implicated chromatin structure in DNA damage signaling and repair. Post-translational histone modifications regulate chromatin structure and access for proteins to damaged DNA sites as reported for repair and signaling proteins to the damaged regions of DNA.

Early HDAC inhibitors (e.g., benzamides) were investigated as differentiating agents, without full understanding of their molecular mechanisms. Some of these agents have advanced to clinical trials. The full recognition of the potential for HDAC inhibitors was advanced with the discovery and development of hydroxamic acid inhibitors. Hydroxamic acid based compounds (e.g., suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA)) have been developed for clinical application, and have proven to be relatively non-toxic. SAHA has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Certain HDAC inhibitors have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,507,828; 7,842,835; 8,067,600; 8,222,451; and 8,748,463; the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Other chemical families of HDAC inhibitors, including depsipeptide and valproic acid, have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Modulation of p53, ErbB1, ErbB2 and Raf-1 expression have been observed following exposure of lung cancer cells to depsipeptide, a drug currently in clinical trials. For example, Valproic acid has been used clinically as an anti-epileptic agent, with excellent reasonable toxicity profile and has been shown to be involved in the proteolysis of HDAC2.

However, pan-HDAC inhibitors have multiple toxicities due to off-target effects. A molecule targeting the HDAC6 protein has a better chance for treating diseases, as compared to more promiscuous HDAC inhibitors, with less toxicity.

HDAC Inhibitors

The HDAC inhibitors of the invention may include one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII. In some embodiments, the HDAC inhibitors of the invention are selective HDAC6 inhibitors.

In some embodiments, the HDAC inhibitor of the invention is a compound of formula VI or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the HDAC inhibitor of the invention is a compound of formula VII or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the HDAC inhibitor of the invention is a compound of formula VIII or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

Certain HDAC inhibitors of the invention are selective HDAC6 inhibitors. For example, the compounds of formulas VI, VII, and VIII are HDAC inhibitors that are also selective HDAC6 inhibitors.

In some embodiments, the HDAC inhibitors (e.g., selective HDAC6 inhibitors) described herein may be delivered as listed or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, cocrystals, tautomers, or prodrugs thereof.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions and methods described herein include one or more of the foregoing HDAC inhibitors or selective HDAC6 inhibitors.

Chemotherapeutic Agents

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions and methods described herein may include one or more additional therapeutic agents. The additional therapeutic agents may include one or more chemotherapeutic agents.

In some embodiments, the chemotherapeutic agents may include one or more of bortezomib (Velcade®; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,780,454, 6,713,446, and 6,958,319), lenalidomide (Revlimid®; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,635,517, 6,045,501, 6,281,230, 6,315,720, 6,555,554, 6,561,976, 6,561,976, 6,561,977, 6,755,784, 6,908,432, 7,119,106, 7,189,740, 7,465,800, 7,468,363, 7,855,217, 7,968,569, 8,204,763, 8,288,415, 8,315,886, 8,404,717, 8,530,498, 8,589,188, 8,626,531, 8,648,095, 8,741,929, 9,056,120, 9,101,621, and 9,101,622), temozolomide (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,098), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,648), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,188,067), Capecitabine (Xeloda®; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,966,891, 5,453,497, 5,472,949, and 5,476,932), Cladribine (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), Clofarabine (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,136), Cytarabine (Ara-C®; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,455,044 and 5,723,147), Floxuridine (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), Fludarabine (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), Gemcitabine (Gemzar®; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,808,614 and 5,464,826), Hydroxyurea (see, U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,249), Methotrexate (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), Pemetrexed (Alimta®; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,344,932 and 7,772,209), Pentostatin (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,435), Thioguanine (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,639), daunorubicin (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,727,968), doxorubicin (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), epirubicin (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,410,131), idaurubicin (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), topotecan (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,410,131), irinotecan (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,410,131), etoposide (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), teniposide (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), mitoxantrone (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), Vinblastine (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), vincristine (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), vinorelbine (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,410,131), estramustine (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,616), paclitaxel (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,245), dexamethasone (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,822,438), and docetaxel (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,410,131).

In any of the methods described herein, the chemotherapeutic agents or combinations thereof may be administered before, concurrently, or after administration of the compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII and/or the immunotherapeutic agents described herein.

Immunotherapeutic Agents

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions and methods described herein may include one or more additional therapeutic agents. The additional therapeutic agents may include one or more immunotherapeutic agents.

In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agents may include one or more of a PD-1 inhibitor and a PD-L1 inhibitor, wherein the PD-1 inhibitor and PD-L1 inhbitor may be selected from the group consisting of nivolumab, pembrolizumab, pidilizumab, durvalumab, atezolizumab, and avelumab, and any fragment, derivative, conjugate, variant, radioisotope-labeled complex, or biosimilar thereof.

In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agents may include one or more of rituximab, trastuzumab, ibritumomab, tositumomab, cetuximab, bevacizumab, gemtuzumab, alemtuzumab, and BL22, and any fragment, derivative, conjugate, variant, radioisotope-labeled complex, or biosimilar thereof.

In any of the methods described herein, the immunotherapeutic agents (e.g., the monoclonal antibodies) or combinations thereof may be administered before, concurrently, or after administration of the compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII, and/or the chemotherapeutic agents described herein.

PD-1 and PD-L1 Inhibitors

In some embodiments, the methods and/or compositions described herein include a combination of an HDAC inhibitor (e.g., a selective HDAC inhibitor) and one or more immunotherapeutic agents. In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agents may include one or more programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors.

In some embodiments, the PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor (e.g., an ant-PD-1 antibody) for use in combination with HDAC inhibitor (e.g., a selective HDAC inhibitor) is selected from the group consisting of nivolumab, pembrolizumab, pidilizumab, durvalumab, atezolizumab, avelumab, and any fragment, derivative, conjugate, variant, radioisotope-labeled complex, or biosimilar thereof.

In an embodiment, an anti-PD-1 antibody comprises nivolumab (also known as OPDIVO and commercially available from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.), or biosimilars, antigen-binding fragments, conjugates, or variants thereof. Nivolumab is referred to as 5C4 in International Patent Publication No. WO 2006/121168. Nivolumab is assigned Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number 946414-94-4 and is also known as BMS-936558, MDX-1106 or ONO-4538. Nivolumab is a fully human IgG4 antibody blocking the PD-1 receptor. The clinical safety and efficacy of nivolumab in various forms of cancer has been described in Wang et al., Cancer Immunol Res. 2014, 2, 846-56; Page et al., Ann. Rev. Med., 2014, 65, 185-202; and Weber et al., J. Clin. Oncology, 2013, 31, 4311-4318. The nivolumab monoclonal antibody includes a heavy chain given by SEQ ID NO:1 and a light chain given by SEQ ID NO:2. Nivolumab has intra-heavy chain disulfide linkages at 22-96, 140-196, 254-314, 360-418, 22′-96″, 140″-196″, 254″-314″, and 360″-418″; intra-light chain disulfide linkages at 23′-88′, 134′-194′, 23′″-88′″, and 134′″-194′″; inter-heavy-light chain disulfide linkages at 127-214′, 127″-214′″, inter-heavy-heavy chain disulfide linkages at 219-219″ and 222-222″; and N-glycosylation sites (H CH₂ 84.4) at 290, 290″.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an anti-PD-1 biosimilar monoclonal antibody approved by drug regulatory authorities with reference to nivolumab. In an embodiment, the biosimilar comprises an anti-PD-1 antibody comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 97% sequence identity, e.g., 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity, to the amino acid sequence of a reference medicinal product or reference biological product and which comprises one or more post-translational modifications as compared to the reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is nivolumab. In some embodiments, the one or more post-translational modifications are selected from one or more of: glycosylation, oxidation, deamidation, and truncation. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is an anti-PD-1 antibody authorized or submitted for authorization, wherein the anti-PD-1 antibody is provided in a formulation which differs from the formulations of a reference medicinal product or or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is nivolumab. The anti-PD-1 antibody may be authorized by a drug regulatory authority such as the U.S. FDA and/or the European Union's EMA. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is nivolumab. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is nivolumab.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody disclosed and/or prepared according to U.S. Pat. No. 8,008,449 or U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009/0217401 A1 or 2013/0133091 A1, the disclosures of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein. For example, in an embodiment, the monoclonal antibody includes 5C4 (referred to herein as nivolumab), 17D8, 2D3, 4H1, 4A11, 7D3, and 5F4, described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,008,449, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The PD-1 antibodies 17D8, 2D3, 4H1, 5C4, and 4A11, are all directed against human PD-1, bind specifically to PD-1 and do not bind to other members of the CD28 family. The sequences and CDR regions for these antibodies are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 8,008,449, in particular in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12; the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

In another embodiment, the anti-PD-1 antibody comprises pembrolizumab (also known as KEYTRUDA), which is commercially available from Merck, or antigen-binding fragments, conjugates, or variants thereof Pembrolizumab is assigned CAS registry number 1374853-91-4 and is also known as lambrolizumab, MK-3475, and SCH-900475. The structure, properties, uses, and preparation of pembrolizumab are described in International Patent Publication No. WO 2008/156712 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 8,354,509 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2010/0266617 A1, US 2013/0108651 A1, and US 2013/0109843 A2, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Pembrolizumab has an immunoglobulin G4, anti-(human protein PDCD1 (programmed cell death 1)) (human-Mus musculus monoclonal heavy chain), disulfide with human-Mus musculus monoclonal light chain, dimer structure. The structure of pembrolizumab may also be described as immunoglobulin G4, anti-(human programmed cell death 1); humanized mouse monoclonal [228-L-proline (H10-S>P)]γ4 heavy chain (134-218′)-disulfide with humanized mouse monoclonal κ light chain dimer (226-226″:229-229″)-bisdisulfide. The clinical safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab in various forms of cancer is described in Fuerst, Oncology Times, 2014, 36, 35-36; Robert et al., Lancet, 2014, 384, 1109-17; and Thomas et al., Exp. Opin. Biol. Ther., 2014, 14, 1061-1064. In an embodiment, the pembrolizumab monoclonal antibody includes a heavy chain given by SEQ ID NO:11 and a light chain given by SEQ ID NO:12, and includes the following disulfide bridges: 22-96, 22″-96″, 23′-92′, 23′″-92′″, 134-218′, 134″-218′″, 138′-198′, 138′″-198′″, 147-203, 147″-203″, 226-226″, 229-229″, 261-321, 261″-321″, 367-425, and 367″-425″, and the following glycosylation sites (N): Asn-297 and Asn-297″. Pembrolizumab is an IgG4/kappa isotype with a stabilizing S228P mutation in the Fc region; insertion of this mutation in the IgG4 hinge region prevents the formation of half molecules typically observed for IgG4 antibodies. Pembrolizumab is heterogeneously glycosylated at Asn297 within the Fc domain of each heavy chain, yielding a molecular weight of approximately 149 kDa for the intact antibody. The dominant glycoform of pembrolizumab is the fucosylated agalacto diantennary glycan form (GOF).

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an anti-PD-1 biosimilar monoclonal antibody approved by drug regulatory authorities with reference to pembrolizumab. In an embodiment, the biosimilar comprises an anti-PD-1 antibody comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 97% sequence identity, e.g., 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity, to the amino acid sequence of a reference medicinal product or reference biological product and which comprises one or more post-translational modifications as compared to the reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is pembrolizumab. In some embodiments, the one or more post-translational modifications are selected from one or more of: glycosylation, oxidation, deamidation, and truncation. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is an anti-PD-1 antibody authorized or submitted for authorization, wherein the anti-PD-1 antibody is provided in a formulation which differs from the formulations of a reference medicinal product or or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is pembrolizumab. The anti-PD-1 antibody may be authorized by a drug regulatory authority such as the U.S. FDA and/or the European Union's EMA. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is pembrolizumab. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is pembrolizumab.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,354,509 or U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010/0266617 A1, 2013/0108651 A1, 2013/0109843 A2, the disclosures of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-1 antibody is pidilizumab, which is also known as CT-011 (CureTech Ltd.), and which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,686,119 B2, the disclosures of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein. The efficacy of pidilizumab in the treatment of cancers, such as hematological malignancies, is described in Berger, et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 2008, 14, 3044-51. The pidilizumab monoclonal antibody includes a heavy chain given by SEQ ID NO:21 and a light chain given by SEQ ID NO:22. Pidilizumab has intra-heavy chain disulfide linkages at 22-96, 144-200, 261-321, 367-425, 22″-96″, 144″-200″, 261″-321″, and 367″-425″; intra-light chain disulfide linkages at 23′-87′, 133′-193′, 23′″-87′″, and 133′″-193′″; inter-heavy-light chain disulfide linkages at 220-213′ and 220″-213′″, inter-heavy-heavy chain disulfide linkages at 226-226″ 229-229″; and N-glycosylation sites (H CH₂ 84.4) at 297, 297″.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an anti-PD-1 biosimilar monoclonal antibody approved by drug regulatory authorities with reference to pidilizumab. In an embodiment, the biosimilar comprises an anti-PD-1 antibody comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 97% sequence identity, e.g., 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity, to the amino acid sequence of a reference medicinal product or reference biological product and which comprises one or more post-translational modifications as compared to the reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is pidilizumab. In some embodiments, the one or more post-translational modifications are selected from one or more of: glycosylation, oxidation, deamidation, and truncation. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is an anti-PD-1 antibody authorized or submitted for authorization, wherein the anti-PD-1 antibody is provided in a formulation which differs from the formulations of a reference medicinal product or or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is pidilizumab. The anti-PD-1 antibody may be authorized by a drug regulatory authority such as the U.S. FDA and/or the European Union's EMA. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is pidilizumab. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is pidilizumab.

In an embodiment, anti-PD-1 antibodies and other PD-1 inhibitors include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,287,856, 8,580,247, and 8,168,757 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009/0028857 A1, 2010/0285013 A1, 2013/0022600 A1, and 2011/0008369 A1, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In another embodiment, antibodies that compete with any of these antibodies for binding to PD-1 are also included. In another embodiment, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,735,553 B1, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-1 antibody is a commercially-available monoclonal antibody, such as anti-m-PD-1 clones J43 (Cat #BE0033-2) and RMP1-14 (Cat #BE0146) (Bio X Cell, Inc.). A number of commercially-available anti-PD-1 antibodies are known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

In an embodiment, the PD-1 inhibitor may be a small molecule or a peptide, or a peptide derivative, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,907,053; 9,096,642; and 9,044,442 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0087581; 1,2,4 oxadiazole compounds and derivatives such as those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0073024; cyclic peptidomimetic compounds and derivatives such as those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0073042; cyclic compounds and derivatives such as those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0125491; 1,3,4 oxadiazole and 1,3,4 thiadiazole compounds and derivatives such as those described in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2015/033301; peptide-based compounds and derivatives such as those described in International Patent Application Publication Nos. WO 2015/036927 and WO 2015/04490, or a macrocyclic peptide-based compounds and derivatives such as those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0294898; the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The anti-PD-1 antibody sequences discussed and referenced in some of the foregoing embodiments are summarized in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Anti-PD-1 antibody amino acid sequences. Identifier Sequence (One-Letter Amino Acid Symbols) SEQ ID NO: 1 QVQLVESGGG VVQPGRSLRL DCKASGITFS NSGMHWVRQA PGKGLEWVAV IWYDGSKRYY  60 nivolumab ADSVKGRFTI SRDNSKNTLF LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCATND DYWGQGTLVT VSSASTKGPS 120 heavy chain VFPLAPCSRS TSESTAALGC LVKDYFPEPV TVSWNSGALT SGVHTFPAVL QSSGLYSLSS 180 VVTVPSSSLG TKTYTCNVDH KPSNTKVDKR VESKYGPPCP PCPAPEFLGG PSVFLFPPKP 240 KDTLMISRTP EVTCVVVDVS QEDPEVQFNW YVDGVEVHNA KTKPREEQFN STYRVVSVLT 300 VLHQDWLNGK EYKCKVSNKG LPSSIEKTIS KAKGQPREPQ VYTLPPSQEE MTKNQVSLTC 360 LVKGFYPSDI AVEWESNGQP ENNYKTTPPV LDSDGSFFLY SRLTVDKSRW QEGNVFSCSV 420 MHEALHNHYT QKSLSLSLGK                                             440 SEQ ID NO: 2 EIVLTQSPAT LSLSPGERAT LSCRASQSVS SYLAWYQQKP GQAPRLLIYD ASNRATGIPA  60 nivolumab RFSGSGSGTD FTLTISSLEP EDFAVYYCQQ SSNWPRTFGQ GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP 120 light chain SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT 180 LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG LSSPVTKSFH RGEC                             214 SEQ ID NO: 3 QVQLVESGGG VVQPGRSLRL DCKASGITFS NSGMHWVRQA PGKGLEWVAV IWYDGSKRYY  60 nivolumab ADSVKGRFTI SRDNSKNTLF LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCATND DYWGQGTLVT VSS        113 variable heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 4 EIVLTQSPAT LSLSPGERAT LSCRASQSVS SYLAWYQQKP GQAPRLLIYD ASNRATGIPA  60 nivolumab RFSGSGSGTD FTLTISSLEP EDFAVYYCQQ SSNWPRTFGQ GTKVEIK               107 variable light chain SEQ ID NO: 5 NSGMH                                                               5 nivolumab heavy chain CDR1 SEQ ID NO: 6 VIWYDGSKRY YADSVKG                                                 17 nivolumab heavy chain CDR2 SEQ ID NO: 7 NDDY                                                                4 nivolumab heavy chain CDR3 SEQ ID NO: 8 RASQSVSSYL A                                                       11 nivolumab light chain CDR1 SEQ ID NO: 9 DASNRAT                                                             7 nivolumab light chain CDR2 SEQ ID NO: 10 QQSSNWPRT                                                           9 nivolumab light chain CDR3 SEQ ID NO: 11 QVQLVQSGVE VKKPGASVKV SCKASGYTFT NYYMYWVRQA PGQGLEWMGG INPSNCCTNF  60 pembrolizumab NEKFKNRVTL TTDSSTTTAY MELKSLQFDD TAVYYCARRD YRFDMGFDYW GQGTTVTVSS 120 heavy chain ASTKGPSVFP LAPCSRSTSE STAALGCLVK DYFPEPVTVS WNSGALTSGV HTFPAVLQSS 180 GLYSLSSVVT VPSSSLGTKT YTCNVDHKPS NTKVDKRVES KYGPPCPPCP APEFLGGPSV 240 FLFPPKPKDT LMISRTPEVT CVVVDVSQED PEVQFNWYVD GVEVHNAKTK PREEQFNSTY 300 RVVSVLTVLH QDWLNGKEYK CKVSNKGLPS SIEKTISKAK GQPREPQVYT LPPSQEEMTK 360 NQVSLTCLVK GFYPSDIAVE WESNGQPENN YKTTPPVLDS DGSFFLYSRL TVDKSRWQEG 420 NVFSCSVMHE ALHNHYTQKS LSLSLGK                                     447 SEQ ID NO: 12 EIVLTQSPAT LSLSPGERAT LSCRASKGVS TSGYSYLHWY QQKPGQAPRL LIYLASYLES  60 pembrolizumab GVPARFSGSG SGTDFTLTIS SLEPEDFAVY YCQHSRDLPL TFGGGTKVEI KRTVAAPSVF 120 light chain IFPPSDEQLK SGTASVVCLL NNFYPREAKV QWKVDNALQS GNSQESVTEQ DSKDSTYSLS 180 STLTLSKADY EKHKVYACEV THQGLSSPVT KSFNRGEC                         218 SEQ ID NO: 13 QVQLVQSGVE VKKPGASVKV SCKASGYTFT NYYMYWVRQA PGQGLEWMGG INPSNGGTNF  60 pembrolizumab NEKFKNRVTL TTDSSTTTAY MELKSLQFDD TAVYYCARRD YRFDMGFDYW GQGTTVTVSS 120 variable heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 14 EIVLTQSPAT LSLSPGERAT LSCRASKGVS TSGYSYLHWY QQKPGQAPRL LIYLASYLES  60 pembrolizumab GVPARFSGSG SGTDFTLTIS SLEPEDFAVY YCQHSRDLPL TFGGGTKVEI K          111 variable light chain SEQ ID NO: 15 NYYMY                                                               5 pemb rolinumab heavy chain CDR1 SEQ ID NO: 16 GINPSNGGTN FNEKFK                                                  16 pembrolizumab heavy chain CDR2 SEQ ID NO: 17 RDYRFDKGFD Y                                                       11 pembrolizumab heavy chain CDR3 SEQ ID NO: 18 RASKGVSTSG YSYLH                                                   15 pembrolizumab light chain CDR1 SEQ ID NO: 19 LASYLES                                                             7 pembrolizumab light chain CDR2 SEQ ID NO: 20 QHSRDLPLT                                                           9 pembrolizumab light chain CDR3 SEQ ID NO: 21 QVQLVQSGSE LKKPGASVKI SCKASGYTFT NYGKNWVRQA PGQGLQWMGW INTDSGESTY  60 pidilizumab AEEFKGRFVF SLDTSVNTAY LQITSLTAED TGMYFCVRVG YDALDYWGQG TLVTVSSAST 120 heavy chain KCPSVFPLAP SSKSTSGGTA ALGCLVKDYF PEPVTVSWNS GALTSGVHTF PAVLQSSGLY 180 SLSSVVTVPS SSLGTQTYIC NVNHKPSNTK VDKRVEPKSC CKTHTCPPCP APELLGGPSV 240 FLFPPKPKDT LMISRTPEVT CVVVDVSHED PEVKFNWYVD GVEVHNAKTK PREEQYNSTY 300 RVVSVLTVLH QDWLNGKEYK CKVSNKALPA PIEKTISKAK GQPREPQVYT LPPSREEMTK 360 NQVSLTCLVK GFYPSCIAVE WESNGQPENN YKTTPPVLDS CGSFFLYSKL TVDKSRWQQG 420 NVFSCSVMHE ALHNHYTQKS LSLSPGK                                     447 SEQ ID NO: 22 EIVLTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCSARSSVS YKHWFQQKPG KAPKLWIYRT SNLASGVPSR  60 pidilizumab FSGSGSGTSY CLTINSLQPE DFATYYCQQR SSFPLTFGGG TKLEIKRTVA APSVFIFPPS 120 light chain DEQLKSGTAS VVCLLNNFYP RFAKVQWKVD NALQSGNSQE SVTEQDSKDS TYSLSSTLTL 180 SKADYEKHKV YACEVTHQGL SSPVTKSFNR GEC                              213 SEQ ID NO: 23 QVQLVQSGSE LKKPGASVKI SCKASGYTFT NYGKNWVRQA PGQGLQWMGW INTDSGESTY  60 pidilizumab AEEFKGRFVF SLDTSVNTAY LQITSLTAED TGMYFCVRVG YDALDYWGQG TLVTVSS    117 variable heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 24 EIVLTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCSARSSVS YMHWFQQKPG KAPKLWIYRT SNLASGVPSR  60 pidilizumab FSGSGSGTSY CLTINSLQPE DFATYYCQQR SSFPLTFGGG TKLEIK                106 variable light chain

The PD-L1 inhibitor may be any PD-L1 inhibitor or blocker known in the art. In particular, it is one of the PD-L1 inhibitors or blockers described in more detail in the following paragraphs. The terms “inhibitor” and “blocker” are used interchangeably herein in reference to PD-L1 inhibitors. For avoidance of doubt, references herein to a PD-L1 inhibitor that is an antibody may refer to a compound or fragment, derivative, conjugate, variant, radioisotope-labeled complex, or biosimilar thereof. For avoidance of doubt, references herein to a PD-L1 inhibitor may refer to a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is durvalumab, also known as MEDI4736 (which is commercially available from Medimmune, LLC), or antigen-binding fragments, conjugates, or variants thereof. In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is an antibody disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,779,108 or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0034559, the disclosures of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein. The clinical efficacy of durvalumab (MEDI4736, SEQ ID NO:25 and SEQ ID NO:26) has been described in: Page et al., Ann. Rev. Med., 2014, 65, 185-202; Brahmer et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 2014, 32, 5s (supplement, abstract 8021); and McDermott et al., Cancer Treatment Rev., 2014, 40, 1056-64. The durvalumab monoclonal antibody includes disulfide linkages at 22-96, 22″-96″, 23′-89′, 23′″-89′″, 135′-195′, 135′″-195′″, 148-204, 148″-204″, 215′-224, 215′″-224″, 230-230″, 233-233″, 265-325, 265″-325″, 371-429, and 371″-429′; and N-glycosylation sites at Asn-301 and Asn-301″.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is an anti-PD-L1 biosimilar monoclonal antibody approved by drug regulatory authorities with reference to durvalumab. In an embodiment, the biosimilar comprises an anti-PD-L1 antibody comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 97% sequence identity, e.g., 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity, to the amino acid sequence of a reference medicinal product or reference biological product and which comprises one or more post-translational modifications as compared to the reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is durvalumab. In some embodiments, the one or more post-translational modifications are selected from one or more of: glycosylation, oxidation, deamidation, and truncation. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is an anti-PD-L1 antibody authorized or submitted for authorization, wherein the anti-PD-L1 antibody is provided in a formulation which differs from the formulations of a reference medicinal product or or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is durvalumab. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is durvalumab. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is durvalumab.

In an embodiment, anti-PD-L1 antibodies and other PD-L1 inhibitors include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,779,108 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0034559A1, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In another embodiment, antibodies that compete with any of these antibodies for binding to PD-L1 are also included.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is atezolizumab, also known as MPDL3280A or RG7446 (commercially available from Genentech, Inc.), or antigen-binding fragments, conjugates, or variants thereof. In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is an antibody disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,217,149, the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein. In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is an antibody disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010/0203056 A1, 2013/0045200 A1, 2013/0045201 A1, 2013/0045202 A1, or 2014/0065135 A1, the disclosures of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein. The atezolizumab monoclonal antibody includes a heavy chain given by SEQ ID NO:35 and a light chain given by SEQ ID NO:36. Atezolizumab has intra-heavy chain disulfide linkages (C23-C104) at 22-96, 145-201, 262-322, 368-426, 22″-96″, 145″-201″, 262″-322″, and 368″-426″; intra-light chain disulfide linkages (C23-C104) at 23′-88′, 134′-194′, 23′″-88′″, and 134′″-194′″; intra-heavy-light chain disulfide linkages (h 5-CL 126) at 221-214′ and 221″-214′″; intra-heavy-heavy chain disulfide linkages (h 11, h 14) at 227-227″ and 230-230″; and N-glycosylation sites (H CH₂ N84.4>A) at 298 and 298′.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is an anti-PD-L1 biosimilar monoclonal antibody approved by drug regulatory authorities with reference to atezolizumab. In an embodiment, the biosimilar comprises an anti-PD-L1 antibody comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 97% sequence identity, e.g., 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity, to the amino acid sequence of a reference medicinal product or reference biological product and which comprises one or more post-translational modifications as compared to the reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is atezolizumab. In some embodiments, the one or more post-translational modifications are selected from one or more of: glycosylation, oxidation, deamidation, and truncation. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is an anti-PD-L1 antibody authorized or submitted for authorization, wherein the anti-PD-L1 antibody is provided in a formulation which differs from the formulations of a reference medicinal product or or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is atezolizumab. The anti-PD-L1 antibody may be authorized by a drug regulatory authority such as the U.S. FDA and/or the European Union's EMA. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is atezolizumab. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is atezolizumab.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is avelumab, also known as MSB0010718C (commercially available from Merck KGaA/EMD Serono), or antigen-binding fragments, conjugates, or variants thereof. In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is an antibody disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2014/0341917 A1, the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein. The avelumab monoclonal antibody includes a heavy chain given by SEQ ID NO:45 and a light chain given by SEQ ID NO:46. Avelumab has intra-heavy chain disulfide linkages (C23-C104) at 22-96, 147-203, 264-324, 370-428, 22″-96″, 147″-203″, 264″-324″, and 370″-428″; intra-light chain disulfide linkages (C23-C104) at 22′-90′, 138′-197′, 22′″-90′″, and 138′″-197′″; intra-heavy-light chain disulfide linkages (h 5-CL 126) at 223-215′ and 223″-215′″; intra-heavy-heavy chain disulfide linkages (h 11, h 14) at 229-229″ and 232-232″; N-glycosylation sites (H CH₂ N84.4) at 300, 300″; fucosylated complex bi-antennary CHO-type glycans; and H CHS K2 C-terminal lysine clipping at 450 and 450′.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is an anti-PD-L1 biosimilar monoclonal antibody approved by drug regulatory authorities with reference to avelumab. In an embodiment, the biosimilar comprises an anti-PD-L1 antibody comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 97% sequence identity, e.g., 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity, to the amino acid sequence of a reference medicinal product or reference biological product and which comprises one or more post-translational modifications as compared to the reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is avelumab. In some embodiments, the one or more post-translational modifications are selected from one or more of: glycosylation, oxidation, deamidation, and truncation. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is an anti-PD-L1 antibody authorized or submitted for authorization, wherein the anti-PD-L1 antibody is provided in a formulation which differs from the formulations of a reference medicinal product or or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is avelumab. The anti-PD-L1 antibody may be authorized by a drug regulatory authority such as the U.S. FDA and/or the European Union's EMA. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is avelumab. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is avelumab.

In an embodiment, anti-PD-L1 antibodies and other PD-L1 inhibitors include those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0341917 A1, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In another embodiment, antibodies that compete with any of these antibodies for binding to PD-L1 are also included.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is MDX-1105, also known as BMS-935559, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,943,743 B2, the disclosures of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein. In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is selected from the anti-PD-L1 antibodies disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,943,743 B2, which are specifically incorporated by reference herein.

In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is a commercially-available monoclonal antibody, such as INVIVOMAB anti-m-PD-L1 clone 10F.9G2 (Catalog #BE0101, Bio X Cell, Inc.). In an embodiment, the anti-PD-L1 antibody is a commercially-available monoclonal antibody, such as AFFYMETRIX EBIOSCIENCE (MIH1). A number of commercially-available anti-PD-L1 antibodies are known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The anti-PD-L1 antibody sequences referenced in some of the foregoing embodiments are summarized in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Anti-PD-L1 antibody amino acid sequences. Identifier Sequence (One-Letter Amino Acid Symbols) SEQ ID NO: 25 EVQLVESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFS RYWMSWVRQA PGKGLEWVAN IKQDGSEKYY  60 durvalumab VDSVKGRFTI SRDNAKNSLY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCAREG GWFGELAFDY WGQGTLVTVS 120 (MEDI4736) SASTKGPSVF PLAPSSKSTS GGTAALGCLV KDYFPEPVTV SWNSGALTSG VHTFPAVLQS 180 heavy chain SGLYSLSSVV TVPSSSLGTQ TYICNVNHKP SNTKVDKRVE PKSCDKTHTC PPCPAPEFEG 240 GPSVFLFPPK PKDTLMISRT PEVTCVVVDV SHEDPEVKFN WYVDGVEVHN AKTKPREEQY 300 NSTYRVVSVL TVLHQDWLNG KEYKCKVSNK ALPASIEKTI SKAKGQPREP QVYTLPPSRE 360 EMTKNQVSLT CLVKGFYPSD IAVEWESNGQ PENNYKTTPP VLDSDGSFFL YSKLTVDKSR 420 WQQGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHY TQKSLSLSPG K                                451 SEQ ID NO: 26 EVQLVESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFS RYWMSWVRQA PGKGLEWVAN EIVLTQSPGT  60 durvalumab LSLSPGERAT LSCRASQRVS SSYLAWYQQK PGQAPRLLIY DASSRATGIP DRFSGSGSGT 120 (MEDI4736) DFTLTISRLE PEDFAVYYCQ QYGSLPWTFG QGTKVEIKRT VAAPSVFIFP PSDEQLKSGT 180 light chain ASVVCLLNNF YPREAKVQWK VDNALQSGNS QESVTEQDSK DSTYSLSSTL TLSKADYEKH 240 KVYACEVTHQ GLSSPVTKSF NRGEC 265 SEQ ID NO: 27 EVQLVESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFS RYWMSWVRQA PGKGLEWVAN IKQDGSEKYY  60 durvalumab VDSVKGRFTI SRDNAKNSLY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCAREG GWFGELAFDY WGQGTLVTVS 120 variable S                                                                 121 heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 28 EIVLTQSPGT LSLSPGERAT LSCRASQRVS SSYLAWYQQK PGQAPRLLIY DASSRATGIP  60 durvalumab DRFSGSGSGT DFTLTISRLE PEDFAVYYCQ QYGSLPWTFG QGTKVEIK              108 variable light chain SEQ ID NO: 29 RYWMS                                                               5 durvalumab heavy chain CDR1 SEQ ID NO: 30 NIKQDGSEKY YVDSVKG                                                 17 durvalumab heavy chain CDR2 SEQ ID NO: 31 EGGWFGELAF DY                                                      12 durvalumab heavy chain CDR3 SEQ ID NO: 32 RASQRVSSSY LA                                                      12 durvalumab light chain CDR1 SEQ ID NO: 33 DASSRAT                                                             7 durvalumab light chain CDR2 SEQ ID NO: 34 QQYGSLPWT                                                           9 durvalumab light chain CDR3 SEQ ID NO: 35 EVQLVESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFS DSWIHWVRQA PGKGLEWVAW ISPYGGSTYY  60 atezolizumab ADSVKGRFTI SADTSKNTAY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCARRH WPGGFDYWGQ GTLVTVSSAS 120 (MPDL3280A) TKGPSVFPLA PSSKSTSGGT AALGCLVKDY FPEPVTVSWN SGALTSGVHT FPAVLQSSGL 180 heavy chain YSLSSVVTVP SSSLGTQTYI CNVNHKPSNT KVDKKVEPKS CDKTHTCPPC PAPELLGGPS 240 VFLFPPKPKD TLMISRTPEV TCVVVDVSHE DPEVKFNWYV DGVEVHNAKT KPREEQYAST 300 YRVVSVLTVL HQDWLNGKEY KCKVSNKALP APIEKTISKA KGQPREPQVY TLPPSREEMT 360 KNQVSLTCLV KGFYPSDIAV EWESNGQPEN NYKTTPPVLD SDGSFFLYSK LTVDKSRWQQ 420 GNVFSCSVMH EALHNHYTQK SLSLSPGK                                    448 SEQ ID NO: 36 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDVS TAVAWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYS ASFLYSGVPS  60 atezolizumab RFSGSGSGTD FTLTISSLQP EDFATYYCQQ YLYHPATFGQ GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP 120 (MPDL3280A) SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT 180 light chain LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG LSSPVTKSFN RGEC                             214 SEQ ID NO: 37 EVQLVESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFS DSWIHWVRQA PGKGLEWVAW ISPYGGSTYY  60 atezolizumab ADSVKGRFTI SADTSKNTAY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCARRH WPGGFDYWGQ GTLVTVSA   118 variable heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 38 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDVS TAVAWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYS ASFLYSGVPS  60 atezolizumab RFSGSGSGTD FTLTISSLQP EDFATYYCQQ YLYHPATFGQ GTKVEIKR              108 variable light chain SEQ ID NO: 39 GFTFSXSWIH                                                         10 atezolizumab heavy chain CDR1 SEQ ID NO: 40 AWIXPYGGSX YYADSVKG                                                18 atezolizumab heavy chain CDR2 SEQ ID NO: 41 RHWPGGFDY                                                           9 atezolizumab heavy chain CDR3 SEQ ID NO: 42 RASQXXXTXX A                                                       11 atezolizumab light chain CDR1 SEQ ID NO: 43 SASXLXS                                                             7 atezolizumab light chain CDR2 SEQ ID NO: 44 QQXXXXPXT                                                           9 atezolizumab light chain CDR3 SEQ ID NO: 45 EVQLLESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFS SYIMMWVRQA PGKGLEWVSS IYPSGGITFY  60 avelumab ADTVKGRFTI SRDNSKNTLY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCARIK LGTVTTVDYW GQGTLVTVSS 120 (MSB0010718C) ASTKGPSVFP LAPSSKSTSG GTAALGCLVK DYFPEPVTVS WNSGALTSGV HTFPAVLQSS 180 heavy chain GLYSLSSVVT VPSSSLGTQT YICNVNHKPS NTKVDKKVEP KSCDKTHTCP PCPAPELLGG 240 PSVFLFPPKP KDTLMISRTP EVTCVVVDVS HEDPEVKFNW YVDGVEVHNA KTKPREEQYN 300 STYRVVSVLT VLHQDWLNGK EYKCKVSNKA LPAPIEKTIS KAKGQPREPQ VYTLPPSRDE 360 LTKNQVSLTC LVKGFYPSDI AVEWESNGQP ENNYKTTPPV LDSDGSFFLY SKLTVDKSRW 420 QQGNVFSCSV MHEALHNHYT QKSLSLSPGK 450 SEQ ID NO: 46 QSALTQPASV SGSPGQSITI SCTGTSSDVG GYNYVSWYQQ HPGKAPKLMI YDVSNRPSGV  60 avelumab SNRFSGSKSG NTASLTISGL QAEDEADYYC SSYTSSSTRV FGTGTKVTVL GQPKANPTVT 120 (MSB0010718C) LFPPSSEELQ ANKATLVCLI SDFYPGAVTV AWKADGSPVK AGVETTKPSK QSNNKYAASS 180 light chain YLSLTPEQWK SHRSYSCQVT HEGSTVEKTV APTECS 216 SEQ ID NO: 47 EVQLLESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFS SYIMMWVRQA PGKGLEWVSS IYPSGGITFY  60 avelumab ADTVKGRFTI SRDNSKNTLY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCARIK LGTVTTVDYW GQGTLVTVSS 120 variable heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 48 QSALTQPASV SGSPGQSITI SCTGTSSDVG GYNYVSWYQQ HPGKAPKLMI YDVSNRPSGV  60 avelumab SNRFSGSKSG NTASLTISGL QAEDEADYYC SSYTSSSTRV FGTGTKVTVL            110 variable light chain SEQ ID NO: 49 SYIMM                                                               5 avelumab heavy chain CDR1 SEQ ID NO: 50 SIYPSGGITF YADTVKG                                                 17 avelumab heavy chain CDR2 SEQ ID NO: 51 IKLGTVTTVD Y                                                       11 avelumab heavy chain CDR3 SEQ ID NO: 52 TGTSSDVGGY NYVS                                                    14 avelumab light chain CDR1 SEQ ID NO: 53 DVSNRPS                                                             7 avelumab light chain CDR2 SEQ ID NO: 54 SSYTSSSTRV                                                         10 avelumab light chain CDR3

The preparation, properties, and uses of suitable PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors are described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,008,449 or U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009/0217401 A1 or 2013/0133091 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 8,354,509 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010/0266617 A1, 2013/0108651 A1, and 2013/0109843 A2; U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,287,856, 8,580,247, and 8,168,757 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2009/0028857 A1, US 2010/0285013 A1, US 2013/0022600 A1, and US 2011/0008369 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 8,779,108 or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0034559 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 8,217,149 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010/0203056 A1, 2013/0045200 A1, 2013/0045201 A1, 2013/0045202 A1, or 2014/0065135 A1; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0341917 A1, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

In an embodiment, a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor selected from the group consisting of nivolimumab, pembrolizumab, pidilizumab, durvalumab, atezolizumab, avelumab, and/or Fab fragments, antigen-binding fragments, derivatives, conjugates, variants, and radioisotope-labeled complexes thereof, is administered to a subject by infusing a dose selected from the group consisting of about 10 mg, about 20 mg, about 25 mg, about 50 mg, about 75 mg, 100 mg, about 200 mg, about 300 mg, about 400 mg, about 500 mg, about 600 mg, about 700 mg, about 800 mg, about 900 mg, about 1000 mg, about 1100 mg, about 1200 mg, about 1300 mg, about 1400 mg, about 1500 mg, about 1600 mg, about 1700 mg, about 1800 mg, about 1900 mg, and about 2000 mg. In an embodiment, the PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor is administered weekly. In an embodiment, the PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor is administered every two weeks. In an embodiment, the PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor is administered every three weeks. In an embodiment, the PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor is administered monthly. In an embodiment, the PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor is administered at a lower initial dose, which is escalated when administered at subsequent intervals administered monthly.

Other Immunotherapeutic Agents

In some embodiments, the methods and/or compositions described herein include a combination of an HDAC inhibitor (e.g., a selective HDAC inhibitor) and one or more immunotherapeutic agents. In some embodiments, the immunotherapeutic agents may include one or more of rituximab (Rituxan®; SEQ ID NO.55 (heavy chain) and SEQ ID NO.56 (light chain)), trastuzumab (Herceptin®; SEQ ID NO.57 (heavy chain) and SEQ ID NO.58 (light chain)), ibritumomab (Zevalin®; SEQ ID NO.59 (heavy chain) and SEQ ID NO.60 (light chain)), tositumomab (Bexxar®; SEQ ID NO.61 (heavy chain) and SEQ ID NO.62 (light chain)), cetuximab (C-225, Erbitux®; SEQ ID NO.63 (heavy chain) and SEQ ID NO.64 (light chain)), bevacizumab (Avastin®; SEQ ID NO.65 (heavy chain) and SEQ ID NO.66 (light chain)), gemtuzumab (Mylotarg®; SEQ ID NO.67 (heavy chain) and SEQ ID NO.68 (light chain)), alemtuzumab (Campath®; SEQ ID NO.69 (heavy chain) and SEQ ID NO.70 (light chain)), and BL22 (RFB4 (dsFv)-PE38 or CAT-3888, and as described in Mansfield, et al., Blood (1997) 90: 2020-2026 and Kreitman, et al., Clin Cancer Res. (2011) 17: 6398-6405).

In an embodiment, the immunotherapeutic agent comprises one or more of rituximab, trastuzumab, ibritumomab, tositumomab, cetuximab, bevacizumab, gemtuzumab, alemtuzumab, and BL22, or a biosimilar, antigen-binding fragment, derivative, conjugate, variant, or radioisotope-labeled complex thereof.

In an embodiment, the forementioned immunotherapeutic agents may be provided in a pharmaceutical composition or method, as described herein, as a biosimilar monoclonal antibody approved by drug regulatory authorities with reference to rituximab, trastuzumab, ibritumomab, tositumomab, cetuximab, bevacizumab, gemtuzumab, alemtuzumab, or BL22. In an embodiment, the biosimilar comprises a monoclonal antibody comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 97% sequence identity, e.g., 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity, to the amino acid sequence of a reference medicinal product or reference biological product and which comprises one or more post-translational modifications as compared to the reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is rituximab, trastuzumab, ibritumomab, tositumomab, cetuximab, bevacizumab, gemtuzumab, alemtuzumab, or BL22. In some embodiments, the one or more post-translational modifications are selected from one or more of: glycosylation, oxidation, deamidation, and truncation. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is an monoclonal antibody authorized or submitted for authorization, wherein the monoclonal antibody is provided in a formulation which differs from the formulations of a reference medicinal product or or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is rituximab, trastuzumab, ibritumomab, tositumomab, cetuximab, bevacizumab, gemtuzumab, alemtuzumab, or BL22. The monoclonal antibody may be authorized by a drug regulatory authority such as the U.S. FDA and/or the European Union's EMA. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is rituximab, trastuzumab, ibritumomab, tositumomab, cetuximab, bevacizumab, gemtuzumab, alemtuzumab, or BL22. In some embodiments, the biosimilar is provided as a composition which further comprises one or more excipients, wherein the one or more excipients are the same or different to the excipients comprised in a reference medicinal product or reference biological product, wherein the reference medicinal product or reference biological product is rituximab, trastuzumab, ibritumomab, tositumomab, cetuximab, bevacizumab, gemtuzumab, alemtuzumab, or BL22.

In an embodiment, a monoclonal antibody selected from the group consisting of rituximab, trastuzumab, ibritumomab, tositumomab, cetuximab, bevacizumab, gemtuzumab, alemtuzumab, and BL22, and/or biosimilars, antigen-binding fragments, derivatives, conjugates, variants, and radioisotope-labeled complexes thereof, is administered to a subject by infusing a dose selected from the group consisting of about 10 mg, about 20 mg, about 25 mg, about 50 mg, about 75 mg, 100 mg, about 200 mg, about 300 mg, about 400 mg, about 500 mg, about 600 mg, about 700 mg, about 800 mg, about 900 mg, about 1000 mg, about 1100 mg, about 1200 mg, about 1300 mg, about 1400 mg, about 1500 mg, about 1600 mg, about 1700 mg, about 1800 mg, about 1900 mg, and about 2000 mg. In an embodiment, the monoclonal antibody is administered weekly. In an embodiment, the monoclonal antibody is administered every two weeks. In an embodiment, the monoclonal antibody is administered every three weeks. In an embodiment, the monoclonal antibody is administered monthly. In an embodiment, the monoclonal antibody is administered at a lower initial dose, which is escalated when administered at subsequent intervals administered monthly

Several of the other immunotherapeutic agent sequences referenced in the foregoing sections are summarized in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Other immunotherapeutic agent antibody sequences. Sequence Identifier and Description Sequence (One-Letter Amino Acid Symbols) SEQ ID NO: 55 QVQLQQPGAE LVKPGASVKM SCKASGYTFT SYNMHWVKQT PGRGLEWIGA IYPGNGDTSY  60 rituximab NQKFKGKATL TADKSSSTAY MQLSSLTSED SAVYYCARST YYGGDWYFNV WGAGTTVTVS 120 heavy chain AASTKGPSVF PLAPSSKSTS GGTAALGCLV KDYFPEPVTV SWNSGALTSG VHTFPAVLQS 180 SGLYSLSSVV TVPSSSLGTQ TYICNVNHKP SNTKVDKKVE PKSCDKTHTC PPCPAPELLG 240 GPSVFLFPPK PKDTLMISRT PEVTCVVVDV SHEDPEVKFN WYVDGVEVHN AKTKPREEQY 300 NSTYRVVSVL TVLHQDWLNG KEYKCKVSNK ALPAPIEKTI SKAKGQPREP QVYTLPPSRD 360 ELTKNQVSLT CLVKGFYPSD IAVEWESNGQ PENNYKTTPP VLDSDGSFFL YSKLTVDKSR 420 WQQGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHY TQKSLSLSPG K                                451 SEQ ID NO: 56 QIVLSQSPAI LSASPGEKVT MTCRASSSVS YIHWFQQKPG SSPKPWIYAT SNLASGVPVR  60 rituximab FSGSGSGTSY SLTISRVEAE DAATYYCQQW TSNPPTFGGG TKLEIKRTVA APSVFIFPPS 120 light chain DEQLKSGTAS VVCLLNNFYP REAKVQWKVD NALQSGNSQE SVTEQDSKDS TYSLSSTLTL 180 SKADYEKHKV YACEVTHQGL SSPVTKSFNR GEC                              213 SEQ ID NO: 57 EVQLVESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGFNIK DTYIHWVRQA PGKGLEWVAR IYPTNGYTRY  60 trastuzumab ADSVKGRFTI SADTSKNTAY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCSRWG GDGFYAMDYW GQGTLVTVSS 120 heavy chain ASTKGPSVFP LAPSSKSTSG GTAALGCLVK DYFPEPVTVS WNSGALTSGV HTFPAVLQSS 180 GLYSLSSVVT VPSSSLGTQT YICNVNHKPS NTKVDKKVEP PKSCDKTHTC PPCPAPELLG 240 GPSVFLFPPK PKDTLMISRT PEVTCVVVDV SHEDPEVKFN WYVDGVEVHN AKTKPREEQY 300 NSTYRVVSVL TVLHQDWLNG KEYKCKVSNK ALPAPIEKTI SKAKGQPREP QVYTLPPSRD 360 ELTKNQVSLT CLVKGFYPSD IAVEWESNGQ PENNYKTTPP VLDSDGSFFL YSKLTVDKSR 420 WQQGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHY TQKSLSLSPG K                                451 SEQ ID NO: 58 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDVN TAVAWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYS ASFLYSGVPS  60 trastuzumab RFSGSRSGTD FTLTISSLQP EDFATYYCQQ HYTTPPTFGQ GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP 120 light chain SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT 180 LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG LSSPVTKSFN RGEC                             214 SEQ ID NO: 59 QAYLQQSGAE LVRPGASVKM SCKASGYTFT SYNMHWVKQT PRQGLEWIGA IYPGNGDTSY  60 ibritumomab NQKFKGKATL TVDKSSSTAY MQLSSLTSED SAVYFCARVV YYSNSYWYFD VWGTGTTVTV 120 heavy chain SAPSVYPLAP VCGDTTGSSV TLGCLVKGYF PEPVTLTWNS GSLSSGVHTF PAVLQSDLYT 180 LSSSVTVTSS TWPSQSITCN VAHPASSTKV DKKIEPRGPT IKPCPPCKCP APNLLGGPSV 240 FIFPPKIKDV LMISLSPIVT CVVVDVSEDD PDVQISWFVN NVEVHTAQTQ THREDYNSTL 300 RVVSALPIQH QDWMSGKEFK CKVNNKDLPA PIERTISKPK GSVRAPQVYV LPPPEEEMTK 360 KQVTLTCMVT DFMPEDIYVE WTNNGKTELN YKNTEPVLDS DGSYFMYSKL RVEKKNWVER 420 NSYSCSVVHE GLHNHHTTKS FSR                                         443 SEQ ID NO: 60 QIVLSQSPAI LSASPGEKVT MTCRASSSVS YMHWYQQKPG SSPKPWIYAP SNLASGVPAR  60 ibritumomab FSGSGSGTSY SLTISRVEAE DAATYYCQQW SFNPPTFGAG TKLELKRADA APTVFIFPPS 120 light chain DEQLKSGTAS VVCLLNNFYP REAKVQWKVD NALQSGNSQE SVTEQDSKDS TYSLSSTLTL 180 SKADYEKHKV YACEVTHQGL SSPVTKSFN                                   209 SEQ ID NO: 61 QAYLQQSGAE LVRPGASVKM SCKASGYTFT SYNMHWVKQT PRQGLEWIGA IYPGNGDTSY  60 tositumomab NQKFKGKATL TVDKSSSTAY MQLSSLTSED SAVYFCARVV YYSNSYWYFD VWGTGTTVTV 120 heavy chain SGPSVFPLAP SSKSTSGGTA ALGCLVKDYF PEPVTVSWNS GALTSGVHTF PAVLQSSGLY 180 SLSSVVTVPS SSLGTQTYIC NVNHKPSNTK VDKKAEPKSC DKTHTCPPCP APELLGGPSV 240 FLFPPKPKDT LMISRTPEVT CVVVDVSHED PEVKFNWYVD GVEVHNAKTK PREEQYNSTY 300 RVVSVLTVLH QDWLNGKEYK CKVSNKALPA PIEKTISKAK GQPREPQVYT LPPSRDELTK 360 NQVSLTCLVK GFYPSDIAVE WESNGQPENN YKTTPPVLDS DGSFFLYSKL TVDKSRWQQG 420 NVFSCSVMHE ALHNHYTQKS LSLSPGK                                     447 SEQ ID NO: 62 QIVLSQSPAI LSASPGEKVT MTCRASSSVS YMHWYQQKPG SSPKPWIYAP SNLASGVPAR  60 tositumomab FSGSGSGTSY SLTISRVEAE DAATYYCQQW SFNPPTFGAG TKLELKRTVA APSVFIFPPS 120 light chain DEQLKSGTAS VVCLLNNFYP REAKVQWKVD NALQSGNSQE SVTEQDSKDS TYSLSSTLTL 180 SKADYEKHKV YACEVTHQGL SSPVTKSFNR                                  210 SEQ ID NO: 63 QVQLKQSGPG LVQPSQSLSI TCTVSGFSLT NYGVHWVRQS PGKGLEWLGV IWSGGNTDYN  60 cetuximab TPFTSRLSIN KDNSKSQVFF KMNSLQSNDT AIYYCARALT YYDYEFAYWG QGTLVTVSAA 120 heavy chain STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG 180 LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKRVEPK SPKSCDKTHT CPPCPAPELL 240 GGPSVFLFPP KPKDTLMISR TPEVTCVVVD VSHEDPEVKF NWYVDGVEVH NAKTKPREEQ 300 YNSTYRVVSV LTVLHQDWLN GKEYKCKVSN KALPAPIEKT ISKAKGQPRE PQVYTLPPSR 360 DELTKNQVSL TCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNG QPENNYKTTP PVLDSDGSFF LYSKLTVDKS 420 RWQQGNVFSC SVMHEALHNH YTQKSLSLSP GK                               452 SEQ ID NO: 64 DILLTQSPVI LSVSPGERVS FSCRASQSIG TNIHWYQQRT NGSPRLLIKY ASESISGIPS  60 cetuximab RFSGSGSGTD FTLSINSVES EDIADYYCQQ NNNWPTTFGA GTKLELKRTV AAPSVFIFPP 120 light chain SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT 180 LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG LSSPVTKSFN RGA                              213 SEQ ID NO: 65 EVQLVESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGYTFT NYGMNWVRQA PGKGLEWVGW INTYTGEPTY  60 bevacizumab AADFKRRFTF SLDTSKSTAY LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCAKYP HYYGSSHWYF DVWGQGTLVT 120 heavy chain VSSASTKGPS VFPLAPSSKS TSGGTAALGC LVKDYFPEPV TVSWNSGALT SGVHTFPAVL 180 QSSGLYSLSS VVTVPSSSLG TQTYICNVNH KPSNTKVDKK VEPKSCDKTH TCPPCPAPEL 240 LGGPSVFLFP PKPKDTLMIS RTPEVTCVVV DVSHEDPEVK FNWYVDGVEV HNAKTKPREE 300 QYNSTYRVVS VLTVLHQDWL NGKEYKCKVS NKALPAPIEK TISKAKGQPR EPQVYTLPPS 360 REEMTKNQVS LTCLVKGFYP SDIAVEWESN GQPENNYKTT PPVLDSDGSF FLYSKLTVDK 420 SRWQQGNVFS CSVMHEALHN HYTQKSLSLS PGK                              453 SEQ ID NO: 66 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCSASQDIS NYLNWYQQKP GKAPKVLIYF TSSLHSGVPS  60 bevacizumab RFSGSGSGTD FTLTISSLQP EDFATYYCQQ YSTVPWTFGQ GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP 120 Light chain SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT 180 LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG LSSPVTKSFN RGEC                             214 SEQ ID NO: 67 QVQLQQSGAE LAKPGASVKM SCKASGYTFT SYRMHWVKQR PGQGLEWIGY INPSTGYTEY  60 gemtuzumab NQKFKDKATL TADKSSSTAY MQLSSLTFED SAVYYCARGG GVFDYWGQGT TLTVSS     116 heavy chain SEQ ID NO: 68 QIVLTQSPAI MSASPGEKVT ITCSASSSIS YMHWFQQKPG TSPKLWIYTT SNLASGVPAR  60 gemtuzumab FSGSGSGTSY SLTISRMEAE DAATYYCHQR STYPLTFGSG TKLELK                106 Light chain SEQ ID NO: 69 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGFTFT DFYMNWVRQP PGRGLEWIGF IRDKAKGYTT  60 alemtuzumab EYNPSVKGRV TMLVDTSKNQ FSLRLSSVTA ADTAVYYCAR EGHTAAPFDY WGQGSLVTVS 120 heavy chain SASTKGPSVF PLAPSSKSTS GGTAALGCLV KDYFPEPVTV SWNSGALTSG VHTFPAVLQS 180 SGLYSLSSVV TVPSSSLGTQ TYICNVNHKP SNTKVDKKVE PKSCDKTHTC PPCPAPELLG 240 GPSVFLFPPK PKDTLMISRT PEVTCVVVDV SHEDPEVKFN WYVDGVEVHN AKTKPREEQY 300 NSTYRVVSVL TVLHQDWLNG KEYKCKVSNK ALPAPIEKTI SKAKGQPREP QVYTLPPSRD 360 ELTKNQVSLT CLVKGFYPSD IAVEWESNGQ PENNYKTTPP VLDSDGSFFL YSKLTVDKSR 420 WQQGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHY TQKSLSLSPG K                                451 SEQ ID NO: 70 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCKASQNID KYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYN TNNLQTGVPS  60 alemtuzumab RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCLQ HISRPRTFGQ GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP 120 Light chain SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT 180 LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG LSSPVTKSFN R                                211

Methods of Treating Cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1,665,540 new cancer cases are expected to have been diagnosed in 2014 with 585,720 cancer-related deaths.

In some embodiments, the invention includes methods of treating a disease alleviated by inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) protein in a patient in need thereof, wherein the treatment includes the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more HDAC inhibitors described herein (e.g., one or more HDAC inhibitors described by formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII). In some embodiments, the disease is cancer. For example, the cancer may be one of the cancers described in Table 4.

In some embodiments, the one or more HDAC inhibitors may include HDAC inhibitors that selectively inhibit HDAC 6. For example, the HDAC inhibitors used in the methods of the invention may include a compound of formula IV, VII, and/or VIII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the methods of the invention may include administering a therapeutically effective amount of an additional therapeutic agent such as, for example, chemotherapeutic agents and/or immunotherapeutic agents, as described herein.

In some embodiments, a patient responding to the methods of treatment disclosed herein may exhibit the absence of disease progression (e.g., halting the growth and/or spread of neoplastic cells and tissues) over another patient that does not receive the methods of treatment described herein.

In some embodiments, the cancer treated by the methods and/or compositions described herein may include those cancers listed in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Selected cancers that may be treated by the methods of the invention. Exemplary Solid Tumors: acoustic neuroma adenocarcinoma angiosarcoma astrocytoma basal cell carcinoma bile duct carcinoma bladder carcinoma breast cancer bronchogenic carcinoma cervical cancer chordoma choriocarcinoma colon cancer colorectal cancer craniopharygioma cystadenocarcinoma embryonal carcinoma endotheliosarcoma ependymoma epithelial carcinoma esophagaelcancer Ewing's tumor fibrosarcoma glioblastomamultiforme glioma hemangioblastoma hepatoma kidney cancer leiomyosarcoma liposarcoma lung cancer lymphangioendotheliosarcoma lymphangiosarcoma medullary carcinoma medulloblastoma melanoma meningioma mesothelioma myxosarcoma nasal cancer neuroblastoma oligodendroglioma oral cancer osteogenic sarcoma ovarian cancer pancreatic cancer papillary adenocarcinomas papillary carcinoma pinealoma prostate cancer rabdomyosarcoma renal cell carcinoma retinoblastoma sebaceous gland carcinoma seminoma skin cancer squamous cell carcinoma stomach cancer sweat gland carcinoma synovioma testicular cancer small cell lung carcinoma throat cancer uterine cancer Wilms' tumor Exemplary Blood Cancers: acute erythroleukemic leukemia acute lymphoblastic B-cell leukemia acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia acute lypmhoblastic leukemia acute megakaryoblastic leukemia acute monoblastic leukemia acute myeloblastic leukemia acute myelomonocytic leukemia acute nonlymphocytic leukemia acute promyelocytic leukemia acute undifferentiated leukemia chronic lymphocytic leukemia chronic myelocytic leukemia hairy cell leukemia multiple myeloma Exemplary Lymphomas: heavy chain disease Hodgkin's disease multiple myeloma non-Hodgkin's lymphoma polycythemia vera Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

In some embodiments, the cancers described herein that may be treated by the methods of the invention may be treated with or without a further step of irradiation.

In some embodiments, the cancer treated by the methods of the invention may include acoustic neuroma, adenocarcinoma, angiosarcoma, astrocytoma, basal cell carcinoma, bile duct carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, brain cancer, breast cancer, brochogenic carcinoma, cervical cancer, chordoma, choriocarcinoma, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, craniopharygioma, cystadenocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, endotheliocarconima, ependymoma, epithelial carcinoma, esophageal cancer, Ewing's tumor, fibrosarcoma, gastric cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, glioma, head and neck cancer, hemangioblastoma, hepatoma, kidney cancer, leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, lung cancer, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, medullary carcinoma, medulloblastoma, melanoma, meningioma, mesothelioma, myxosarcoma, nasal cancer, neuroblastoma, oligodendroglioma, oral cancer, osteogenic sarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, papillary adenocarcinoma, papillary carcinoma, pinealoma, prostate cancer, rabdomyosarcoma, rectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, sarcoma, sebacaceous gland carcinoma, seminoma, skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, stomach cancer, sweat gland carcinoma, synovioma, testicular cancer, small cell lung carcinoma, throat cancer, uterine cancer, Wilm's tumor, blood cancer, acute erythroleukemic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic B-cell leukemia, acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, acute monoblastic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute myelomonocytic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia, acute undifferentiated leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, multiple myeloma, heavy chain disease, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, polycythemia vera, and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.

In some embodiments, the cancers treated by the methods and/or compositions of the invention are HPV positive (+) cancers. HPV (+) cancers may include cervical cancer and head and neck cancer.

In some embodiments, treatments of cancer may include surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. Each treatment modality carries risks and benefits, and cancer recurrences underlie efforts to improve the outcomes of treatment. In particular, recent advances in surgical and radiation therapy technologies, employing computational and robotic methods, have plateaued efficacy of local-regional treatments. Moreover, targeted agents to personalize chemotherapy have altered the cancer treatment paradigm.

Radiation therapy (i.e., radiotherapy) involves the treatment of cancer and other diseases using ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation deposits energy that injures or destroys cells in targeted tissues by damaging their genetic material and subsequently interfering with a cell's ability to grow and/or replicate. Radiation exposure damages cancer cells and normal cells, but the normal cells activate processes to better repair themselves and may continue to function properly. Radiotherapy may be used to treat solid tumors (e.g., cancers of the head and neck, breast, prostate, rectum, uterus, lung, brain, kidney, uterus, and cervix). Radiotherapy may also be used to treat cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas. Radiotherapies used for leukemias and lymphomas may include total body radiation therapy in protocols preparing patients for bone marrow transplants. Radiotherapy may be more effective when the targeted cancer tissues are more sensitive to the effects of radiation than surrounding normal tissues.

The radiation responses of different cancers or tumors may vary as a function of histology, cellular doubling time, oxygenation, nutrient availability, repair capacity, and other factors. Some cancers are readily cured using ionizing radiation doses within normal tissue tolerances, while other types of cancer may not be very responsive to radiation. Furthermore, radiation responses of tumors with the same histology may show considerable heterogeneity and reduce the therapeutic effects of the therapy. Thus, a primary challenge facing radiotherapy is the differentiation between the more radiosensitive tumors versus less radiosensitive tumors and the surrounding healthy tissues.

Investigations into the molecular bases underlying cellular radiation responses have provided dramatic mechanistic insight. Signal transduction pathways have been implicated to play important roles in cellular responses to ionizing radiation. Induction of gene expression by these cascades under various conditions has been shown to result in cell cycle arrest, activation of DNA repair processes, and activation of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Disruption of critical signaling pathways in cancer cells may result in enhanced cytotoxic effects following radiation exposure. Certain cells may be disrupted by interfering with the histone acetylation and deacetylation processes of the cells.

Therapeutic ratios may be determined by measuring the effects of drugs on cancers and on normal tissues. Radiation toxicities to organs at risk may affect normal tissues adjacent to the treated volume (such as rectum or bladder in the treatment of a pelvic tumor), or in sites receiving transit dose (such as the pelvic bone marrow).

The methods of the invention may include irradiating a selected tissue of the patient before, during, and/or after a compound of the invention (or pharmaceutical composition containing such compound) is administered to the patient. Regarding the application of radiation (“radiation therapy” or “radiotherapy”) to the patient or subject more generally, such therapy may encompass any ionizing radiation known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Generally, radiation therapy, and in particular ionizing radiation includes applying to a selected tissue, such as a selected tissue comprising cancerous and/or neoplastic cells, a dose of ionizing radiation or two or more fractions of ionizing radiation. The ionization radiation is defined as an irradiation dose which is determined according to the disease's characteristics at the selected tissue and therapeutic decision of a physician. The term “fractionated dose(s)” may include, for example, conventional fractionation, hyperfractionation, hypofractionation, and accelerated fractionation). The amount of radiation and doses thereof should be sufficient to damage the highly proliferating cells' genetic material, making it impossible for the irradiated cells to continue growing and dividing.

In certain aspects, fractionated irradiation may vary from daily doses (e.g. one or more times per day) given for a period of weeks, or to once weekly doses given for a period of weeks or months. Indeed, radiation may be applied in dosages of about 0.1 Gy to about 100 Gy. For example, the dosage may be about 5 to 15 Gy.

In certain fractionated irradiation methods, irradiation dosing may include the application of about 0.1 to about 20 Gy or from about 1 Gy to about 10 Gy or from about 1 Gy to about 3 Gy in a single session, which may be repeated several times over the course of about 1 to 10 weeks, or about 2 to 5 weeks. In certain embodiments of the invention, the radiation dose may be about 30 to 60 Gy at 1 to 5 Gy fractions over a period of about 2 to 5 weeks.

In other exemplary aspects, three different fractionation schemes may be used in accordance with the invention.

In one embodiment, radiation doses from 1 Gy to 3 Gy in daily fractions for several weeks (e.g., about 2 to 8 weeks) to achieve cumulative doses of about 20 Gy to 80 Gy.

In another embodiment, large fraction radiation therapy may include doses of 4 Gy to 25 Gy. This fractionated irradiation scheme may include the delivery of about 1 fraction to 5 fractions delivered over about 1-2 weeks. This type of radiation may be referred to as stereotactic radiosurgery or stereotactic body radiation therapy.

In a further embodiment, brachytherapy may be used, which is delivered using low dose and rate techniques or high-dose rate techniques, typically delivering doses of about 4 Gy to 10 Gy per day with technique and fractionation specific to the clinical situation as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

As set forth above, the compounds and/or compositions of the invention may be administered before, after, or together with the radiation. One cycle of radiation therapy as well as several cycles of radiation is possible, dependent on the reduction of tumor size or extent of proliferation. Such sequences of radiosensitization treatments and ionizing irradiation are repeated as needed to abate and, optimally, reduce or eliminate the spread of the cancer or neoplastic cells in the tissue or region of tissue that is selected for treatment. Accordingly, the total dose and the radiation regimen will depend, inter alia, on the cancer type, type of compound that results in radiosensitization, irradiated area, physical condition of the patient and many other considerations appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art.

In addition to the administration of a compound of the invention and the irradiation of the patient, the methods of the invention may include the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a chemotherapeutic agent and/or an immunotherapeutic agent to the patient. The chemotherapeutic agent and/or immunotherapeutic agent may be provided before, during, or after at least one of the steps of administering the HDAC inhibitor and irradiating a selected tissue of the patient. Therefore, the chemotherapeutic agent and/or immunotherapeutic agent may be provided at various points during the methods of the invention for the treatment of disease. In certain aspects, the chemotherapeutic agent and/or immunotherapeutic agent may be administered concurrently with or after the step of irradiating the selected tissue of the patient.

Methods of Treating Immunological Diseases

Regarding immunological diseases, the HDAC inhibitors may be used in methods of treating diseases that are the result of over-active immunity. Millions of people worldwide endure debilitating immunological diseases that implicate HDAC proteins and may be treated by the compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention. For example, see International Patent Application No. 2011/017448, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the invention includes methods of treating a disease alleviated by inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) protein in a patient in need thereof, wherein the treatment includes the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more HDAC inhibitors described herein (e.g., such as a selective HDAC inhibitor, including one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII). In some embodiments, the disease is an immunological disease, as described herein.

In some embodiments, the immunological disease may be celiac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1 (IDDM), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren's syndrome, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polymyositis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, autoimmune carditis, Wegener's granulomatosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, polyarteritis nodosa, psoriasis, vitiligo, epidermolysis bullosa, scleroderma, alopecia areata, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus foliaceous, and pemphigus vulgaris.

In some embodiments, the one or more HDAC inhibitors may include HDAC inhibitors that selectively inhibit HDAC 6. For example, the HDAC inhibitors used in the methods of the invention may include a compound of formula VI, VII, or VIII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the methods of the invention may include administering a therapeutically effective amount of an additional therapeutic agent such as, for example, chemotherapeutic agents and/or immunotherapeutic agents, as described herein.

Methods of Treating Neurological Diseases

Neurological diseases affect a vast number of humans of all ages. In the United States, over 500,000 people each year experience a stroke, making it the third leading cause of death and the primary cause of disability. One in twenty people is afflicted with Alzheimer's disease by the age of 65, and almost 40 percent of the population have the disease by age 80. More than 600,000 people suffer from Parkinson's disease and over 200,000 from multiple sclerosis. Every year, greater than 10,000 people die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The impact of neurological disease is not only devastating for the patients, but also for their families.

Although considerable effort has been invested in the design of effective therapies, neurological diseases continue to threaten the worldwide population and lessen their quality of life. The HDAC inhibitors may be used in compositions or methods for treating such neurological disorders that implicate HDAC proteins.

In some embodiments, the invention includes methods of treating a disease alleviated by inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) protein in a patient in need thereof, wherein the treatment includes the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more HDAC inhibitors described herein (e.g., such as a selective HDAC inhibitor, including one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII). In some embodiments, the disease is a neurological disease, as described herein.

In some embodiments, the neurological disease may be selected from the group consisting of Huntington's disease, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In certain aspects, the neurological disease may be Alzheimer's disease or multiple sclerosis.

In some embodiments, the one or more HDAC inhibitors may include HDAC inhibitors that selectively inhibit HDAC6. For example, the HDAC inhibitors used in the methods of the invention may include a compound of formula VI, VII, or VIII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the methods of the invention may include administering a therapeutically effective amount of an additional therapeutic agent such as, for example, chemotherapeutic agents and/or immunotherapeutic agents, as described herein.

Methods of Treating Inflammatory Diseases

Compounds having a hydroxamic acid moiety are known to possess useful biological activities in addition to being useful for treating cancer, immunological diseases, and neurological diseases. For example, many peptidyl compounds possessing a hydroxamic acid moiety are known to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are a family of zinc endopeptidases. The MMPs play a key role in both physiological and pathological tissue degradation. Therefore, peptidyl compounds that have the ability to inhibit the action of MMPs show utility for the treatment or prophylaxis of conditions involving tissue breakdown and inflammation.

In some embodiments, the invention includes methods of treating a disease alleviated by inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) protein in a patient in need thereof, wherein the treatment includes the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more HDAC inhibitors described herein (e.g., such as a selective HDAC inhibitor, including one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII). In some embodiments, the disease is an inflammatory disease, as described herein.

In some embodiments, the inflammatory diseases may include, for example, psoriatic arthritis; inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; spondyloarthropathies; scleroderma; psoriasis (including T-cell mediated psoriasis) and inflammatory dermatoses such an dermatitis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, urticaria; vasculitis (e.g., necrotizing, cutaneous, and hypersensitivity vasculitis); eosinphilic myositis, eosinophilic fasciitis; acute pancreatitis; inflammatory bowel disease; or an inflammatory condition resulting from strain, sprain, cartilage damage, trauma such as burn, orthopedic surgery, infection or other disease processes. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,507,858.

In some embodiments, the one or more HDAC inhibitors may include HDAC inhibitors that selectively inhibit HDAC6. For example, the HDAC inhibitors used in the methods of the invention may include a compound of formula VI, VII, or VIII, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.

In some embodiments, the methods of the invention may include administering a therapeutically effective amount of an additional therapeutic agent such as, for example, chemotherapeutic agents and/or immunotherapeutic agents, as described herein.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

In an embodiment, an active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as any of the foregoing HDAC inhibitors (e.g., such as a selective HDAC inhibitor, including one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII), is provided as a pharmaceutically acceptable composition.

In some embodiments, the concentration of each of the active pharmaceutical ingredients provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention, such as any of the foregoing HDAC inhibitors, is less than, for example, 100%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.09%, 0.08%, 0.07%, 0.06%, 0.05%, 0.04%, 0.03%, 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.009%, 0.008%, 0.007%, 0.006%, 0.005%, 0.004%, 0.003%, 0.002%, 0.001%, 0.0009%, 0.0008%, 0.0007%, 0.0006%, 0.0005%, 0.0004%, 0.0003%, 0.0002% or 0.0001% w/w, w/v or v/v of the pharmaceutical composition.

In some embodiments, the concentration of each of the active pharmaceutical ingredients provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention, such as any of the foregoing HDAC inhibitors, is greater than 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 19.75%, 19.50%, 19.25% 19%, 18.75%, 18.50%, 18.25% 18%, 17.75%, 17.50%, 17.25% 17%, 16.75%, 16.50%, 16.25% 16%, 15.75%, 15.50%, 15.25% 15%, 14.75%, 14.50%, 14.25% 14%, 13.75%, 13.50%, 13.25% 13%, 12.75%, 12.50%, 12.25% 12%, 11.75%, 11.50%, 11.25% 11%, 10.75%, 10.50%, 10.25% 10%, 9.75%, 9.50%, 9.25% 9%, 8.75%, 8.50%, 8.25% 8%, 7.75%, 7.50%, 7.25% 7%, 6.75%, 6.50%, 6.25% 6%, 5.75%, 5.50%, 5.25% 5%, 4.75%, 4.50%, 4.25%, 4%, 3.75%, 3.50%, 3.25%, 3%, 2.75%, 2.50%, 2.25%, 2%, 1.75%, 1.50%, 125%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.09%, 0.08%, 0.07%, 0.06%, 0.05%, 0.04%, 0.03%, 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.009%, 0.008%, 0.007%, 0.006%, 0.005%, 0.004%, 0.003%, 0.002%, 0.001%, 0.0009%, 0.0008%, 0.0007%, 0.0006%, 0.0005%, 0.0004%, 0.0003%, 0.0002% or 0.0001% w/w, w/v, or v/v of the pharmaceutical composition.

In some embodiments, the concentration of each of the active pharmaceutical ingredients provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention, such as any of the foregoing HDAC inhibitors, is in the range from about 0.0001% to about 50%, about 0.001% to about 40%, about 0.01% to about 30%, about 0.02% to about 29%, about 0.03% to about 28%, about 0.04% to about 27%, about 0.05% to about 26%, about 0.06% to about 25%, about 0.07% to about 24%, about 0.08% to about 23%, about 0.09% to about 22%, about 0.1% to about 21%, about 0.2% to about 20%, about 0.3% to about 19%, about 0.4% to about 18%, about 0.5% to about 17%, about 0.6% to about 16%, about 0.7% to about 15%, about 0.8% to about 14%, about 0.9% to about 12% or about 1% to about 10% w/w, w/v or v/v of the pharmaceutical composition.

In some embodiments, the concentration of each of the active pharmaceutical ingredients provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention, such as any of the foregoing HDAC inhibitors, is in the range from about 0.001% to about 10%, about 0.01% to about 5%, about 0.02% to about 4.5%, about 0.03% to about 4%, about 0.04% to about 3.5%, about 0.05% to about 3%, about 0.06% to about 2.5%, about 0.07% to about 2%, about 0.08% to about 1.5%, about 0.09% to about 1%, about 0.1% to about 0.9% w/w, w/v or v/v of the pharmaceutical composition.

In some embodiments, the amount of each of the active pharmaceutical ingredients provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention, such as any of the foregoing HDAC inhibitors, is equal to or less than 10 g, 9.5 g, 9.0 g, 8.5 g, 8.0 g, 7.5 g, 7.0 g, 6.5 g, 6.0 g, 5.5 g, 5.0 g, 4.5 g, 4.0 g, 3.5 g, 3.0 g, 2.5 g, 2.0 g, 1.5 g, 1.0 g, 0.95 g, 0.9 g, 0.85 g, 0.8 g, 0.75 g, 0.7 g, 0.65 g, 0.6 g, 0.55 g, 0.5 g, 0.45 g, 0.4 g, 0.35 g, 0.3 g, 0.25 g, 0.2 g, 0.15 g, 0.1 g, 0.09 g, 0.08 g, 0.07 g, 0.06 g, 0.05 g, 0.04 g, 0.03 g, 0.02 g, 0.01 g, 0.009 g, 0.008 g, 0.007 g, 0.006 g, 0.005 g, 0.004 g, 0.003 g, 0.002 g, 0.001 g, 0.0009 g, 0.0008 g, 0.0007 g, 0.0006 g, 0.0005 g, 0.0004 g, 0.0003 g, 0.0002 g, or 0.0001 g.

In some embodiments, the amount of each of the active pharmaceutical ingredients provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention, such as any of the foregoing HDAC inhibitors, is more than 0.0001 g, 0.0002 g, 0.0003 g, 0.0004 g, 0.0005 g, 0.0006 g, 0.0007 g, 0.0008 g, 0.0009 g, 0.001 g, 0.0015 g, 0.002 g, 0.0025 g, 0.003 g, 0.0035 g, 0.004 g, 0.0045 g, 0.005 g, 0.0055 g, 0.006 g, 0.0065 g, 0.007 g, 0.0075 g, 0.008 g, 0.0085 g, 0.009 g, 0.0095 g, 0.01 g, 0.015 g, 0.02 g, 0.025 g, 0.03 g, 0.035 g, 0.04 g, 0.045 g, 0.05 g, 0.055 g, 0.06 g, 0.065 g, 0.07 g, 0.075 g, 0.08 g, 0.085 g, 0.09 g, 0.095 g, 0.1 g, 0.15 g, 0.2 g, 0.25 g, 0.3 g, 0.35 g, 0.4 g, 0.45 g, 0.5 g, 0.55 g, 0.6 g, 0.65 g, 0.7 g, 0.75 g, 0.8 g, 0.85 g, 0.9 g, 0.95 g, 1 g, 1.5 g, 2 g, 2.5 g, 3 g, 3.5 g, 4 g, 4.5 g, 5 g, 5.5 g, 6 g, 6.5 g, 7 g, 7.5 g, 8 g, 8.5 g, 9 g, 9.5 g, or 10 g.

Each of the active pharmaceutical ingredients according to the invention is effective over a wide dosage range. For example, in the treatment of adult humans, dosages independently range from 0.01 to 1000 mg, from 0.5 to 100 mg, from 1 to 50 mg per day, and from 5 to 40 mg per day are examples of dosages that may be used. The exact dosage will depend upon the route of administration, the form in which the compound is administered, the gender and age of the subject to be treated, the body weight of the subject to be treated, and the preference and experience of the attending physician. The clinically-established dosages of the foregoing HDAC inhibitors may also be used if appropriate.

In an embodiment, the molar ratio of two active pharmaceutical ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions is in the range from 10:1 to 1:10, preferably from 2.5:1 to 1:2.5, and more preferably about 1:1. In an embodiment, the weight ratio of the molar ratio of two active pharmaceutical ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions is selected from the group consisting of 20:1, 19:1, 18:1, 17:1, 16:1, 15:1, 14:1, 13:1, 12:1, 11:1, 10:1, 9:1, 8:1, 7:1, 6:1, 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, 1:10, 1:11, 1:12, 1:13, 1:14, 1:15, 1:16, 1:17, 1:18, 1:19, and 1:20. In an embodiment, the weight ratio of the molar ratio of two active pharmaceutical ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions is selected from the group consisting of 20:1, 19:1, 18:1, 17:1, 16:1, 15:1, 14:1, 13:1, 12:1, 11:1, 10:1, 9:1, 8:1, 7:1, 6:1, 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, 1:10, 1:11, 1:12, 1:13, 1:14, 1:15, 1:16, 1:17, 1:18, 1:19, and 1:20.

Of course, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, the dosage actually administered will depend upon the condition being treated, the age, health and weight of the recipient, the type of concurrent treatment, if any, and the frequency of treatment. Moreover, the effective dosage amount may be determined by one skilled in the art on the basis of routine empirical activity testing to measure the bioactivity of the compound(s) in a bioassay, and thus establish the appropriate dosage to be administered.

Furthermore, the described methods of treatment may normally include medical follow-up to determine the therapeutic or prophylactic effect brought about in the subject undergoing treatment with the compound(s) and/or composition(s) described herein.

Described below are non-limiting pharmaceutical compositions and methods for preparing the same.

Pharmaceutical Compositions for Oral Administration

In an embodiment, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for oral administration containing the active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as the HDAC inhibitors described herein (e.g., such as a selective HDAC inhibitor, including one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII), and a pharmaceutical excipient suitable for oral administration.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a solid pharmaceutical composition for oral administration containing: (i) an effective amount of an active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients, and (ii) a pharmaceutical excipient suitable for oral administration. In selected embodiments, the composition further contains (iii) an effective amount of a third active pharmaceutical ingredient and optionally (iv) an effective amount of a fourth active pharmaceutical ingredient.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may be a liquid pharmaceutical composition suitable for oral consumption. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention suitable for oral administration can be presented as discrete dosage forms, such as capsules, sachets, or tablets, or liquids or aerosol sprays each containing a predetermined amount of an active ingredient as a powder or in granules, a solution, or a suspension in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid, an oil-in-water emulsion, a water-in-oil liquid emulsion, powders for reconstitution, powders for oral consumptions, bottles (including powders or liquids in a bottle), orally dissolving films, lozenges, pastes, tubes, gums, and packs. Such dosage forms can be prepared by any of the methods of pharmacy, but all methods include the step of bringing the active ingredient(s) into association with the carrier, which constitutes one or more necessary ingredients. In general, the compositions are prepared by uniformly and intimately admixing the active ingredient(s) with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired presentation. For example, a tablet can be prepared by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets can be prepared by compressing in a suitable machine the active ingredient in a free-flowing form such as powder or granules, optionally mixed with an excipient such as, but not limited to, a binder, a lubricant, an inert diluent, and/or a surface active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets can be made by molding in a suitable machine a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent.

The invention further encompasses anhydrous pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms since water can facilitate the degradation of some compounds. For example, water may be added (e.g., 5%) in the pharmaceutical arts as a means of simulating long-term storage in order to determine characteristics such as shelf-life or the stability of formulations over time. Anhydrous pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms of the invention can be prepared using anhydrous or low moisture containing ingredients and low moisture or low humidity conditions. Pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms of the invention which contain lactose can be made anhydrous if substantial contact with moisture and/or humidity during manufacturing, packaging, and/or storage is expected. An anhydrous pharmaceutical composition may be prepared and stored such that its anhydrous nature is maintained. Accordingly, anhydrous compositions may be packaged using materials known to prevent exposure to water such that they can be included in suitable formulary kits. Examples of suitable packaging include, but are not limited to, hermetically sealed foils, plastic or the like, unit dose containers, blister packs, and strip packs.

Each of the active pharmaceutical ingredients can be combined in an intimate admixture with a pharmaceutical carrier according to conventional pharmaceutical compounding techniques. The carrier can take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration. In preparing the compositions for an oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media can be employed as carriers, such as, for example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols, flavoring agents, preservatives, coloring agents, and the like in the case of oral liquid preparations (such as suspensions, solutions, and elixirs) or aerosols; or carriers such as starches, sugars, micro-crystalline cellulose, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants, binders, and disintegrating agents can be used in the case of oral solid preparations, in some embodiments without employing the use of lactose. For example, suitable carriers include powders, capsules, and tablets, with the solid oral preparations. If desired, tablets can be coated by standard aqueous or nonaqueous techniques.

Binders suitable for use in pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms include, but are not limited to, corn starch, potato starch, or other starches, gelatin, natural and synthetic gums such as acacia, sodium alginate, alginic acid, other alginates, powdered tragacanth, guar gum, cellulose and its derivatives (e.g., ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, carboxymethyl cellulose calcium, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, methyl cellulose, pre-gelatinized starch, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, and mixtures thereof.

Examples of suitable fillers for use in the pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, talc, calcium carbonate (e.g., granules or powder), microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose, dextrates, kaolin, mannitol, silicic acid, sorbitol, starch, pre-gelatinized starch, and mixtures thereof.

Disintegrants may be used in the compositions of the invention to provide tablets that disintegrate when exposed to an aqueous environment. Too much of a disintegrant may produce tablets which disintegrate in the bottle. Too little may be insufficient for disintegration to occur, thus altering the rate and extent of release of the active ingredients from the dosage form. Thus, a sufficient amount of disintegrant that is neither too little nor too much to detrimentally alter the release of the active ingredient(s) may be used to form the dosage forms of the compounds disclosed herein. The amount of disintegrant used may vary based upon the type of formulation and mode of administration, and may be readily discernible to those of ordinary skill in the art. About 0.5 to about 15 weight percent of disintegrant, or about 1 to about 5 weight percent of disintegrant, may be used in the pharmaceutical composition. Disintegrants that can be used to form pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms of the invention include, but are not limited to, agar-agar, alginic acid, calcium carbonate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, polacrilin potassium, sodium starch glycolate, potato or tapioca starch, other starches, pre-gelatinized starch, other starches, clays, other aligns, other celluloses, gums or mixtures thereof.

Lubricants which can be used to form pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms of the invention include, but are not limited to, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, mineral oil, light mineral oil, glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol, polyethylene glycol, other glycols, stearic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, hydrogenated vegetable oil (e.g., peanut oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil, and soybean oil), zinc stearate, ethyl oleate, ethyl aureate, agar, or mixtures thereof. Additional lubricants include, for example, a syloid silica gel, a coagulated aerosol of synthetic silica, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, or mixtures thereof. A lubricant can optionally be added in an amount of less than about 0.5% or less than about 1% (by weight) of the pharmaceutical composition.

When aqueous suspensions and/or elixirs are desired for oral administration, the active pharmaceutical ingredient(s) may be combined with various sweetening or flavoring agents, coloring matter or dyes and, if so desired, emulsifying and/or suspending agents, together with such diluents as water, ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerin and various combinations thereof.

The tablets can be uncoated or coated by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate can be employed. Formulations for oral use can also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water or an oil medium, for example, peanut oil, liquid paraffin or olive oil.

Surfactants which can be used to form pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms of the invention include, but are not limited to, hydrophilic surfactants, lipophilic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. That is, a mixture of hydrophilic surfactants may be employed, a mixture of lipophilic surfactants may be employed, or a mixture of at least one hydrophilic surfactant and at least one lipophilic surfactant may be employed.

A suitable hydrophilic surfactant may generally have an HLB value of at least 10, while suitable lipophilic surfactants may generally have an HLB value of or less than about 10. An empirical parameter used to characterize the relative hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of non-ionic amphiphilic compounds is the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (“HLB” value). Surfactants with lower HLB values are more lipophilic or hydrophobic, and have greater solubility in oils, while surfactants with higher HLB values are more hydrophilic, and have greater solubility in aqueous solutions. Hydrophilic surfactants are generally considered to be those compounds having an HLB value greater than about 10, as well as anionic, cationic, or zwitterionic compounds for which the HLB scale is not generally applicable. Similarly, lipophilic (i.e., hydrophobic) surfactants are compounds having an HLB value equal to or less than about 10. However, HLB value of a surfactant is merely a rough guide generally used to enable formulation of industrial, pharmaceutical and cosmetic emulsions.

Hydrophilic surfactants may be either ionic or non-ionic. Suitable ionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkylammonium salts; fusidic acid salts; fatty acid derivatives of amino acids, oligopeptides, and polypeptides; glyceride derivatives of amino acids, oligopeptides, and polypeptides; lecithins and hydrogenated lecithins; lysolecithins and hydrogenated lysolecithins; phospholipids and derivatives thereof lysophospholipids and derivatives thereof; carnitine fatty acid ester salts; salts of alkylsulfates; fatty acid salts; sodium docusate; acylactylates; mono- and di-acetylated tartaric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides; succinylated mono- and di-glycerides; citric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides; and mixtures thereof.

Within the aforementioned group, ionic surfactants include, by way of example: lecithins, lysolecithin, phospholipids, lysophospholipids and derivatives thereof; carnitine fatty acid ester salts; salts of alkylsulfates; fatty acid salts; sodium docusate; acylactylates; mono- and di-acetylated tartaric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides; succinylated mono- and di-glycerides; citric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides; and mixtures thereof.

Ionic surfactants may be the ionized forms of lecithin, lysolecithin, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylserine, lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylglycerol, lysophosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidylserine, PEG-phosphatidylethanolamine, PVP-phosphatidylethanolamine, lactylic esters of fatty acids, stearoyl-2-lactylate, stearoyl lactylate, succinylated monoglycerides, mono/diacetylated tartaric acid esters of mono/diglycerides, citric acid esters of mono/diglycerides, cholylsarcosine, caproate, caprylate, caprate, laurate, myristate, palmitate, oleate, ricinoleate, linoleate, linolenate, stearate, lauryl sulfate, teracecyl sulfate, docusate, lauroyl carnitines, palmitoyl carnitines, myristoyl carnitines, and salts and mixtures thereof.

Hydrophilic non-ionic surfactants may include, but not limited to, alkylglucosides; alkylmaltosides; alkylthioglucosides; lauryl macrogolglycerides; polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers such as polyethylene glycol alkyl ethers; polyoxyalkylene alkylphenols such as polyethylene glycol alkyl phenols; polyoxyalkylene alkyl phenol fatty acid esters such as polyethylene glycol fatty acids monoesters and polyethylene glycol fatty acids diesters; polyethylene glycol glycerol fatty acid esters; polyglycerol fatty acid esters; polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters such as polyethylene glycol sorbitan fatty acid esters; hydrophilic transesterification products of a polyol with at least one member of the group consisting of glycerides, vegetable oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils, fatty acids, and sterols; polyoxyethylene sterols, derivatives, and analogs thereof; polyoxyethylated vitamins and derivatives thereof; polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers; and mixtures thereof; polyethylene glycol sorbitan fatty acid esters and hydrophilic transesterification products of a polyol with at least one member of the group consisting of triglycerides, vegetable oils, and hydrogenated vegetable oils. The polyol may be glycerol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, propylene glycol, pentaerythritol, or a saccharide.

Other hydrophilic-non-ionic surfactants include, without limitation, PEG-10 laurate, PEG-12 laurate, PEG-20 laurate, PEG-32 laurate, PEG-32 dilaurate, PEG-12 oleate, PEG-15 oleate, PEG-20 oleate, PEG-20 dioleate, PEG-32 oleate, PEG-200 oleate, PEG-400 oleate, PEG-15 stearate, PEG-32 distearate, PEG-40 stearate, PEG-100 stearate, PEG-20 dilaurate, PEG-25 glyceryl trioleate, PEG-32 dioleate, PEG-20 glyceryl laurate, PEG-30 glyceryl laurate, PEG-20 glyceryl stearate, PEG-20 glyceryl oleate, PEG-30 glyceryl oleate, PEG-30 glyceryl laurate, PEG-40 glyceryl laurate, PEG-40 palm kernel oil, PEG-50 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-40 castor oil, PEG-35 castor oil, PEG-60 castor oil, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-60 corn oil, PEG-6 caprate/caprylate glycerides, PEG-8 caprate/caprylate glycerides, polyglyceryl-10 laurate, PEG-30 cholesterol, PEG-25 phytosterol, PEG-30 soya sterol, PEG-20 trioleate, PEG-40 sorbitan oleate, PEG-80 sorbitan laurate, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, POE-9 lauryl ether, POE-23 lauryl ether, POE-10 oleyl ether, POE-20 oleyl ether, POE-20 stearyl ether, tocopheryl PEG-100 succinate, PEG-24 cholesterol, polyglyceryl-10 oleate, Tween 40, Tween 60, sucrose monostearate, sucrose monolaurate, sucrose monopalmitate, PEG 10-100 nonyl phenol series, PEG 15-100 octyl phenol series, and poloxamers.

Suitable lipophilic surfactants include, by way of example only: fatty alcohols; glycerol fatty acid esters; acetylated glycerol fatty acid esters; lower alcohol fatty acids esters; propylene glycol fatty acid esters; sorbitan fatty acid esters; polyethylene glycol sorbitan fatty acid esters; sterols and sterol derivatives; polyoxyethylated sterols and sterol derivatives; polyethylene glycol alkyl ethers; sugar esters; sugar ethers; lactic acid derivatives of mono- and di-glycerides; hydrophobic transesterification products of a polyol with at least one member of the group consisting of glycerides, vegetable oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils, fatty acids and sterols; oil-soluble vitamins/vitamin derivatives; and mixtures thereof. Within this group, preferred lipophilic surfactants include glycerol fatty acid esters, propylene glycol fatty acid esters, and mixtures thereof, or are hydrophobic transesterification products of a polyol with at least one member of the group consisting of vegetable oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils, and triglycerides.

In an embodiment, the composition may include a solubilizer to ensure good solubilization and/or dissolution of a compound described herein and to minimize precipitation of the compound. This can be especially important for compositions for non-oral use—e.g., compositions for injection. A solubilizer may also be added to increase the solubility of the hydrophilic drug and/or other components, such as surfactants, or to maintain the composition as a stable or homogeneous solution or dispersion.

Examples of suitable solubilizers include, but are not limited to, the following: alcohols and polyols, such as ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, benzyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butanediols and isomers thereof, glycerol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, mannitol, transcutol, dimethyl isosorbide, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyvinylalcohol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and other cellulose derivatives, cyclodextrins and cyclodextrin derivatives; ethers of polyethylene glycols having an average molecular weight of about 200 to about 6000, such as tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol PEG ether (glycofurol) or methoxy PEG; amides and other nitrogen-containing compounds such as 2-pyrrolidone, 2-piperidone, ε-caprolactam, N-alkylpyrrolidone, N-hydroxyalkylpyrrolidone, N-alkylpiperidone, N-alkylcaprolactam, dimethylacetamide and polyvinylpyrrolidone; esters such as ethyl propionate, tributylcitrate, acetyl triethylcitrate, acetyl tributyl citrate, triethylcitrate, ethyl oleate, ethyl caprylate, ethyl butyrate, triacetin, propylene glycol monoacetate, propylene glycol diacetate, ε-caprolactone and isomers thereof, δ-valerolactone and isomers thereof, β-butyrolactone and isomers thereof; and other solubilizers known in the art, such as dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl isosorbide, N-methyl pyrrolidones, monooctanoin, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, and water.

Mixtures of solubilizers may also be used. Examples include, but not limited to, triacetin, triethylcitrate, ethyl oleate, ethyl caprylate, dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone, polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cyclodextrins, ethanol, polyethylene glycol 200-100, glycofurol, transcutol, propylene glycol, and dimethyl isosorbide. Particularly preferred solubilizers include sorbitol, glycerol, triacetin, ethyl alcohol, PEG-400, glycofurol and propylene glycol.

The amount of solubilizer that can be included is not particularly limited. The amount of a given solubilizer may be limited to a bioacceptable amount, which may be readily determined by one of skill in the art. In some circumstances, it may be advantageous to include amounts of solubilizers far in excess of bioacceptable amounts, for example to maximize the concentration of the drug, with excess solubilizer removed prior to providing the composition to a patient using conventional techniques, such as distillation or evaporation. Thus, if present, the solubilizer can be in a weight ratio of 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, or up to about 200% by weight, based on the combined weight of the drug, and other excipients. If desired, very small amounts of solubilizer may also be used, such as 5%, 2%, 1% or even less. Typically, the solubilizer may be present in an amount of about 1% to about 100%, more typically about 5% to about 25% by weight.

The composition can further include one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives and excipients. Such additives and excipients include, without limitation, detackifiers, anti-foaming agents, buffering agents, polymers, antioxidants, preservatives, chelating agents, viscomodulators, tonicifiers, flavorants, colorants, odorants, opacifiers, suspending agents, binders, fillers, plasticizers, lubricants, and mixtures thereof.

In addition, an acid or a base may be incorporated into the composition to facilitate processing, to enhance stability, or for other reasons. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable bases include amino acids, amino acid esters, ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium hydrogen carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium aluminum silicate, synthetic aluminum silicate, synthetic hydrocalcite, magnesium aluminum hydroxide, diisopropylethylamine, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, triethanolamine, triethylamine, triisopropanolamine, trimethylamine, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) and the like. Also suitable are bases that are salts of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid, such as acetic acid, acrylic acid, adipic acid, alginic acid, alkanesulfonic acid, amino acids, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, boric acid, butyric acid, carbonic acid, citric acid, fatty acids, formic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, hydroquinosulfonic acid, isoascorbic acid, lactic acid, maleic acid, oxalic acid, para-bromophenylsulfonic acid, propionic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, tannic acid, tartaric acid, thioglycolic acid, toluenesulfonic acid, uric acid, and the like. Salts of polyprotic acids, such as sodium phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate can also be used. When the base is a salt, the cation can be any convenient and pharmaceutically acceptable cation, such as ammonium, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals. Example may include, but not limited to, sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, calcium and ammonium.

Suitable acids are pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic acids. Examples of suitable inorganic acids include hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydriodic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, boric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like. Examples of suitable organic acids include acetic acid, acrylic acid, adipic acid, alginic acid, alkanesulfonic acids, amino acids, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, boric acid, butyric acid, carbonic acid, citric acid, fatty acids, formic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, hydroquinosulfonic acid, isoascorbic acid, lactic acid, maleic acid, methanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, para-bromophenylsulfonic acid, propionic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, tannic acid, tartaric acid, thioglycolic acid, toluenesulfonic acid and uric acid.

Pharmaceutical Compositions for Injection

In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is provided for injection containing an active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as an HDAC inhibitor (e.g., such as a selective HDAC inhibitor, including one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII), and a pharmaceutical excipient suitable for injection.

The forms in which the compositions described herein may be incorporated for administration by injection include aqueous or oil suspensions, or emulsions, with sesame oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, or peanut oil, as well as elixirs, mannitol, dextrose, or a sterile aqueous solution, and similar pharmaceutical vehicles.

Aqueous solutions in saline are also conventionally used for injection. Ethanol, glycerol, propylene glycol and liquid polyethylene glycol (and suitable mixtures thereof), cyclodextrin derivatives, and vegetable oils may also be employed. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating, such as lecithin, for the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. The prevention of the action of microorganisms can be brought about by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, and thimerosal.

Sterile injectable solutions are prepared by incorporating an active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the required amounts in the appropriate solvent with various other ingredients as enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the various sterilized active ingredients into a sterile vehicle which contains the basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, certain desirable methods of preparation are vacuum-drying and freeze-drying techniques which yield a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

Pharmaceutical Compositions for Topical Delivery

In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is provided for transdermal delivery containing an active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as HDAC inhibitors described herein (e.g., such as a selective HDAC inhibitor, including one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII), and a pharmaceutical excipient suitable for transdermal delivery.

Compositions described herein can be formulated into preparations in solid, semi-solid, or liquid forms suitable for local or topical administration, such as gels, water soluble jellies, creams, lotions, suspensions, foams, powders, slurries, ointments, solutions, oils, pastes, suppositories, sprays, emulsions, saline solutions, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-based solutions. In general, carriers with higher densities are capable of providing an area with a prolonged exposure to the active ingredients. In contrast, a solution formulation may provide more immediate exposure of the active ingredient to the chosen area.

The pharmaceutical compositions also may comprise suitable solid or gel phase carriers or excipients, which are compounds that allow increased penetration of, or assist in the delivery of, therapeutic molecules across the stratum corneum permeability barrier of the skin. There are many of these penetration-enhancing molecules known to those trained in the art of topical formulation. Examples of such carriers and excipients include, but are not limited to, humectants (e.g., urea), glycols (e.g., propylene glycol), alcohols (e.g., ethanol), fatty acids (e.g., oleic acid), surfactants (e.g., isopropyl myristate and sodium lauryl sulfate), pyrrolidones, glycerol monolaurate, sulfoxides, terpenes (e.g., menthol), amines, amides, alkanes, alkanols, water, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, various sugars, starches, cellulose derivatives, gelatin, and polymers such as polyethylene glycols.

Another exemplary formulation for use in the methods described herein employs transdermal delivery devices (“patches”). Such transdermal patches may be used to provide continuous or discontinuous infusion of an active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients in controlled amounts, either with or without another active pharmaceutical ingredient.

The construction and use of transdermal patches for the delivery of pharmaceutical agents is well known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,023,252; 4,992,445; and 5,001,139, the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such patches may be constructed for continuous, pulsatile, or on demand delivery of pharmaceutical agents.

Pharmaceutical Compositions for Inhalation

Compositions for inhalation or insufflation include solutions and suspensions in pharmaceutically acceptable, aqueous or organic solvents, or mixtures thereof, and powders. The liquid or solid compositions may contain suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients as described supra and the HDAC inhibitors described herein (e.g., such as a selective HDAC inhibitor, including one or more compounds of formulas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and/or VIII). Preferably the compositions are administered by the oral or nasal respiratory route for local or systemic effect. Compositions in preferably pharmaceutically acceptable solvents may be nebulized by use of inert gases. Nebulized solutions may be inhaled directly from the nebulizing device or the nebulizing device may be attached to a face mask tent, or intermittent positive pressure breathing machine. Solution, suspension, or powder compositions may be administered, preferably orally or nasally, from devices that deliver the formulation in an appropriate manner. Dry powder inhalers may also be used to provide inhaled delivery of the compositions.

Other Pharmaceutical Compositions

Pharmaceutical compositions of the HDAC inhibitors described herein may also be prepared from compositions described herein and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients suitable for sublingual, buccal, rectal, intraosseous, intraocular, intranasal, epidural, or intraspinal administration. Preparations for such pharmaceutical compositions are well-known in the art. See, e.g., Anderson, Philip O.; Knoben, James E.; Troutman, William G, eds., Handbook of Clinical Drug Data, Tenth Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2002; and Pratt and Taylor, eds., Principles of Drug Action, Third Edition, Churchill Livingston, N.Y., 1990, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Administration of an active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients or a pharmaceutical composition thereof can be effected by any method that enables delivery of the compounds to the site of action. These methods include oral routes, intraduodenal routes, parenteral injection (including intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravascular, intraperitoneal or infusion), topical (e.g., transdermal application), rectal administration, via local delivery by catheter or stent or through inhalation. The active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients can also be administered intraadiposally or intrathecally.

Exemplary parenteral administration forms include solutions or suspensions of active compound in sterile aqueous solutions, for example, aqueous propylene glycol or dextrose solutions. Such dosage forms can be suitably buffered, if desired.

The invention also provides kits. The kits include an active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients, either alone or in combination in suitable packaging, and written material that can include instructions for use, discussion of clinical studies and listing of side effects. Such kits may also include information, such as scientific literature references, package insert materials, clinical trial results, and/or summaries of these and the like, which indicate or establish the activities and/or advantages of the composition, and/or which describe dosing, administration, side effects, drug interactions, or other information useful to the health care provider. Such information may be based on the results of various studies, for example, studies using experimental animals involving in vivo models and studies based on human clinical trials. The kit may further contain another active pharmaceutical ingredient. In selected embodiments, an active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients are provided as separate compositions in separate containers within the kit. In selected embodiments, an active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients are provided as a single composition within a container in the kit. Suitable packaging and additional articles for use (e.g., measuring cup for liquid preparations, foil wrapping to minimize exposure to air, and the like) are known in the art and may be included in the kit. Kits described herein can be provided, marketed and/or promoted to health providers, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, formulary officials, and the like. Kits may also, in selected embodiments, be marketed directly to the consumer.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a kit comprising a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (e.g., HDAC inhibitor) or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof. These compositions are typically pharmaceutical compositions. The kit is for co-administration of the active pharmaceutical ingredient or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients, either simultaneously or separately.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a kit comprising (1) a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (e.g., HDAC inhibitor) or combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof, and (2) a diagnostic test for determining whether a patient's cancer is a particular subtype of a cancer. Any of the foregoing diagnostic methods may be utilized in the kit.

For example, a kit of the invention may include one or more HDAC inhibitors and a chemotherapeutic agent and/or an immunotherapeutic agent.

The kits described above are preferably for use in the treatment of the diseases and conditions described herein. In a particular embodiment, the kits are for use in the treatment of cancer, neurological disorders, or immunological disorders.

Dosages and Dosing Regimens

The amounts of the pharmaceutical compositions administered using the methods herein, such as the dosages of HDAC inhibitors, will be dependent on the human or mammal being treated, the severity of the disorder or condition, the rate of administration, the disposition of the active pharmaceutical ingredients and the discretion of the prescribing physician. However, an effective dosage is in the range of about 0.001 to about 100 mg per kg body weight per day, such as about 1 to about 35 mg/kg/day, in single or divided doses. For a 70 kg human, this would amount to about 0.05 to 7 g/day, such as about 0.05 to about 2.5 g/day. In some instances, dosage levels below the lower limit of the aforesaid range may be more than adequate, while in other cases still larger doses may be employed without causing any harmful side effect—e.g., by dividing such larger doses into several small doses for administration throughout the day. The dosage of the pharmaceutical compositions and active pharmaceutical ingredients may be provided in units of mg/kg of body mass or in mg/m² of body surface area.

In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition or active pharmaceutical ingredient is administered in a single dose. Such administration may be by injection, e.g., intravenous injection, in order to introduce the active pharmaceutical ingredient quickly. However, other routes, including the preferred oral route, may be used as appropriate. A single dose of a pharmaceutical composition may also be used for treatment of an acute condition.

In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition or active pharmaceutical ingredient is administered in multiple doses. In an embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition is administered in multiple doses. Dosing may be once, twice, three times, four times, five times, six times, or more than six times per day. Dosing may be once a month, once every two weeks, once a week, or once every other day. In other embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is administered about once per day to about 6 times per day. In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is administered once daily, while in other embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is administered twice daily, and in other embodiments a pharmaceutical composition is administered three times daily.

Administration of the active pharmaceutical ingredients may continue as long as necessary. In selected embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is administered for more than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, or 28 day(s). In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is administered for less than 28, 14, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 day(s). In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is administered chronically on an ongoing basis—e.g., for the treatment of chronic effects. In some embodiments, the administration of a pharmaceutical composition continues for less than about 7 days. In yet another embodiment the administration continues for more than about 6, 10, 14, 28 days, two months, six months, or one year. In some cases, continuous dosing is achieved and maintained as long as necessary.

In some embodiments, an effective dosage of an active pharmaceutical ingredient disclosed herein is in the range of about 1 mg to about 500 mg, about 10 mg to about 300 mg, about 20 mg to about 250 mg, about 25 mg to about 200 mg, about 10 mg to about 200 mg, about 20 mg to about 150 mg, about 30 mg to about 120 mg, about 10 mg to about 90 mg, about 20 mg to about 80 mg, about 30 mg to about 70 mg, about 40 mg to about 60 mg, about 45 mg to about 55 mg, about 48 mg to about 52 mg, about 50 mg to about 150 mg, about 60 mg to about 140 mg, about 70 mg to about 130 mg, about 80 mg to about 120 mg, about 90 mg to about 110 mg, about 95 mg to about 105 mg, about 150 mg to about 250 mg, about 160 mg to about 240 mg, about 170 mg to about 230 mg, about 180 mg to about 220 mg, about 190 mg to about 210 mg, about 195 mg to about 205 mg, or about 198 to about 202 mg. In some embodiments, an effective dosage of an active pharmaceutical ingredient disclosed herein is less than about 25 mg, less than about 50 mg, less than about 75 mg, less than about 100 mg, less than about 125 mg, less than about 150 mg, less than about 175 mg, less than about 200 mg, less than about 225 mg, or less than about 250 mg. In some embodiments, an effective dosage of an active pharmaceutical ingredient disclosed herein is greater than about 25 mg, greater than about 50 mg, greater than about 75 mg, greater than about 100 mg, greater than about 125 mg, greater than about 150 mg, greater than about 175 mg, greater than about 200 mg, greater than about 225 mg, or greater than about 250 mg.

In some embodiments, an effective dosage of an active pharmaceutical ingredient disclosed herein is in the range of about 0.01 mg/kg to about 200 mg/kg, or about 0.1 to 100 mg/kg, or about 1 to 50 mg/kg.

In some embodiments, an active pharmaceutical ingredient is adminstered at a dosage of 10 to 200 mg BID, including 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, or 200 mg BID. In some embodiments, an active pharmaceutical ingredient is adminstered at a dosage of 10 to 500 mg BID, including 1, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, or 500 mg BID.

In some instances, dosage levels below the lower limit of the aforesaid ranges may be more than adequate, while in other cases still larger doses may be employed without causing any harmful side effect—e.g., by dividing such larger doses into several small doses for administration throughout the day. Of course, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, the dosage actually administered will depend upon the condition being treated, the age, health and weight of the recipient, the type of concurrent treatment, if any, and the frequency of treatment. Moreover, the effective dosage amount may be determined by one skilled in the art on the basis of routine empirical activity testing to measure the bioactivity of the compound(s) in a bioassay, and thus establish the appropriate dosage to be administered.

An effective amount of the combination of the active pharmaceutical ingredient may be administered in either single or multiple doses by any of the accepted modes of administration of agents having similar utilities, including rectal, buccal, intranasal and transdermal routes, by intra-arterial injection, intravenously, intraperitoneally, parenterally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, orally, topically, or as an inhalant.

In some embodiments, the compositions described herein further include controlled-release, sustained release, or extended-release therapeutic dosage forms for administration of the compounds described herein, which involves incorporation of the compounds into a suitable delivery system in the formation of certain compositions. This dosage form controls release of the compound(s) in such a manner that an effective concentration of the compound(s) in the bloodstream may be maintained over an extended period of time, with the concentration in the blood remaining relatively constant, to improve therapeutic results and/or minimize side effects. Additionally, a controlled-release system would provide minimum peak to trough fluctuations in blood plasma levels of the compound.

The following examples describe the invention in further detail. These examples are provided for illustrative purposes only, and should in no way be considered as limiting the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Compounds SP-2-213, SP-2-223, and SP-2-225 were Tested as Selective Inhibitors of HDAC6 as Compared to Pan-HDAC, HDAC1, and HDAC3

SP-2-213, SP-2-223, and SP-2-225 were tested in assay to determine the selectivity of the compounds for specific HDAC proteins. The compounds were tested against Pan HDAC, HDAC1, HDAC3, and HDAC6 proteins in vitro. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C, SP-2-213, SP-2-223, and SP-2-225 were inhibitors of HDAC6.

However, SP-2-213, SP-2-223, and SP-2-225 were found to be selective inhibitors of HDAC6 as compared to Pan-HDACs, HDAC1, and HDAC3.

As compared to HDAC1 and HDAC3, SP-2-213 was about 4 times and about 12 times more selective for HDAC6, respectively.

As compared to HDAC1 and HDAC3, SP-2-223 was about 44 times and about 18 times more selective for HDAC6, respectively.

As compared to HDAC1 and HDAC3, SP-2-225 was about 65 times and about 22 times more selective for HDAC6, respectively.

A number of patent and non-patent publications are cited herein in order to describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. The entire disclosure of each of these publications is incorporated by reference herein.

While certain embodiments have been described and/or exemplified above, various other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. The invention described herein is, therefore, not limited to the particular embodiments described and/or exemplified, but is capable of considerable variation and modification without departure from the scope of the appended claims.

Moreover, as used herein, the term “about” means that dimensions, sizes, formulations, parameters, shapes and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art. In general, a dimension, size, formulation, parameter, shape or other quantity or characteristic is “about” or “approximate” whether or not expressly stated to be such. It is noted that embodiments of very different sizes, shapes and dimensions may employ the described arrangements.

Furthermore, the transitional terms “comprising”, “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of”, when used in the appended claims, in original and amended form, define the claim scope with respect to what unrecited additional claim elements or steps, if any, are excluded from the scope of the claim(s). The term “comprising” is intended to be inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude any additional, unrecited element, method, step or material. The term “consisting of” excludes any element, step or material other than those specified in the claim and, in the latter instance, impurities ordinary associated with the specified material(s). The term “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified elements, steps or material(s) and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. All compounds, compositions, and methods described herein that embody the invention can, in alternate embodiments, be more specifically defined by any of the transitional terms “comprising,” “consisting essentially of,” and “consisting of.” 

1. A compound of formula I, II, III, IV, or V:

wherein R¹ is H or optionally substituted alkyl or aryl; R² is H or optionally substituted alkyl or aryl; Q is a moiety selected from the group consisting of —NR³—(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—NR³—, —NR³—C(═O)—(CH₂)_(n)—, —(CH₂)_(n)—C(═O)—NR³—, —C(═O)—NR³—(CH₂)_(n)—, and —(CH₂)_(n)—NR³—C(═O)—, wherein n is 0 or 1, and R³ is H or optionally substituted alkyl or aryl; each of R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, and R⁷ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halo, and optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, and aryloxy; Z is O, S, S(═O), or S(═O)₂; A is a moiety selected from the group consisting of

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of formula (VI):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.
 3. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of formula (VII):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.
 4. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is of formula (VIII):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.
 5. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is a selective HDAC6 inhibitor.
 6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, cocrystal, or prodrug thereof.
 7. A method of treating a disease alleviated by inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) protein in a patient in need thereof, wherein the treatment comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of claim
 6. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of cancer, an immunological disease, an inflammatory disease, and a neurological disease.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of acoustic neuroma, adenocarcinoma, angiosarcoma, astrocytoma, basal cell carcinoma, bile duct carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, brain cancer, breast cancer, brochogenic carcinoma, cervical cancer, chordoma, choriocarcinoma, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, craniopharygioma, cystadenocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, endotheliocarconima, ependymoma, epithelial carcinoma, esophageal cancer, Ewing's tumor, fibrosarcoma, gastric cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, glioma, head and neck cancer, hemangioblastoma, hepatoma, kidney cancer, leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, lung cancer, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, medullary carcinoma, medulloblastoma, melanoma, meningioma, mesothelioma, myxosarcoma, nasal cancer, neuroblastoma, oligodendroglioma, oral cancer, osteogenic sarcoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, papillary adenocarcinoma, papillary carcinoma, pinealoma, prostate cancer, rabdomyosarcoma, rectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, sarcoma, sebacaceous gland carcinoma, seminoma, skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, stomach cancer, sweat gland carcinoma, synovioma, testicular cancer, small cell lung carcinoma, throat cancer, uterine cancer, Wilm's tumor, blood cancer, acute erythroleukemic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic B-cell leukemia, acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, acute monoblastic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute myelomonocytic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia, acute undifferentiated leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, multiple myeloma, heavy chain disease, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, polycythemia vera, and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the cancer comprises an HPV positive (+) cancer.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the HPV positive (+) cancer comprises one or more of cervical cancer and head and neck cancer.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the immunological disease is selected from the group consisting of celiac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1 (IDDM), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren's syndrome, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polymyositis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, autoimmune carditis, Wegener's granulomatosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, polyarteritis nodosa, psoriasis, vitiligo, epidermolysis bullosa, scleroderma, alopecia areata, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus foliaceous, and pemphigus vulgaris.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the neurological disease is selected from the group consisting of stroke, Huntington's disease, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
 14. The method of claim 6, comprising an additional therapeutic agent.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the additional therapeutic agent comprises a chemotherapeutic agent or an immunotherapeutic agent.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the chemotherapeutic agent comprises one or more of bortezomib (Velcade®), lenalidomide (Revlimid®), temozolomide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), Capecitabine (Xeloda®), Cladribine, Clofarabine, Cytarabine (Ara-C®), Floxuridine, Fludarabine, Gemcitabine (Gemzar®), Hydroxyurea, Methotrexate, Pemetrexed (Alimta®), Pentostatin, Thioguanine, daunorubicin; doxorubicin, epirubicin, idaurubicin, topotecan, irinotecan, etoposide, teniposide, mitoxantrone, Vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, estramustine, paclitaxel, dexamethasone, and docetaxel.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the immunotherapeutic agent comprises one or more of nivolumab, pembrolizumab, pidilizumab, durvalumab, atezolizumab, and avelumab, and any fragment, derivative, conjugate, variant, radioisotope-labeled complex, or biosimilar thereof.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the immunotherapeutic agent comprises one or more of rituximab, trastuzumab, ibritumomab, tositumomab, cetuximab, bevacizumab, gemtuzumab, alemtuzumab, and BL22, and any fragment, derivative, conjugate, variant, radioisotope-labeled complex, or biosimilar thereof. 19-35. (canceled) 